Patents by Inventor Takato Masuda

Takato Masuda 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: 11727168
    Abstract: The disclosure includes embodiments for proactive vehicle maintenance scheduling based on one or more digital twin simulations. A method includes generating a digital twin of a vehicle. The method includes receiving digital data recorded by a sensor and describing the vehicle as it exists in a real-world and one or more historical journeys of the vehicle in the real-world. The method includes updating the digital twin of the vehicle based on the digital data describing the vehicle so that the digital twin is consistent with a condition of the vehicle as it exists in the real-world. The method includes executing a simulation based on the digital twin and the one or more historical journeys. The method includes estimating a component of the vehicle that fails at a future time based on the simulation. The method includes scheduling a reservation to repair the component before the future time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Takato Masuda, BaekGyu Kim, Shinichi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 11186289
    Abstract: The disclosure includes embodiments for concealing a distracting object. A method according to some embodiments includes analyzing environment data to identify a distracting object that is viewable by a driver, wherein the environment data is generated by a sensor set of a first vehicle and the environment data describes an environment including the first vehicle. The method includes determining a risk value of concealing the distracting object from the driver. The method includes responsive to the risk value failing to meet a threshold value, overlaying a concealing graphic on the distracting object while the first vehicle is being operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventors: Shinichi Shiraishi, Eric Kim, Takato Masuda
  • Patent number: 10894541
    Abstract: A vehicle speed limiter system installed on a vehicle includes a detection unit to detect a speed limit value of a road while the vehicle is traveling; a setting unit to set the speed limit value; a limiter unit to limit the vehicle speed, based on the speed limit value; an obtainment unit to obtain a stepping amount on an accelerator pedal; a calculation unit to calculate a parameter depending on the stepping amount in a state where the vehicle speed is being limited by the limiter unit; and a display unit to display information based on the parameter, in a case where a speed limit value newly detected by the detection unit is greater than the speed limit value previously set by the setting unit, before the setting unit sets the speed limit value newly detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Tomatsu, Takashi Inoue, Sokfan Yee, Tetsuya Taira, Keiji Yamashita, Takato Masuda
  • Publication number: 20190300003
    Abstract: The disclosure includes embodiments for concealing a distracting object. A method according to some embodiments includes analyzing environment data to identify a distracting object that is viewable by a driver, wherein the environment data is generated by a sensor set of a first vehicle and the environment data describes an environment including the first vehicle. The method includes determining a risk value of concealing the distracting object from the driver. The method includes responsive to the risk value failing to meet a threshold value, overlaying a concealing graphic on the distracting object while the first vehicle is being operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Shinichi Shiraishi, Eric Kim, Takato Masuda
  • Publication number: 20190266295
    Abstract: The disclosure includes embodiments for proactive vehicle maintenance scheduling based on one or more digital twin simulations. A method includes generating a digital twin of a vehicle. The method includes receiving digital data recorded by a sensor and describing the vehicle as it exists in a real-world and one or more historical journeys of the vehicle in the real-world. The method includes updating the digital twin of the vehicle based on the digital data describing the vehicle so that the digital twin is consistent with a condition of the vehicle as it exists in the real-world. The method includes executing a simulation based on the digital twin and the one or more historical journeys. The method includes estimating a component of the vehicle that fails at a future time based on the simulation. The method includes scheduling a reservation to repair the component before the future time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Takato Masuda, BaekGyu Kim, Shinichi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 10160317
    Abstract: A vehicle's accelerator pedal depression amount is detected; a speed limit of a road on which the vehicle is traveling is determined; a start of a lane change is estimated; an upper-limit speed is determined each time when the speed limit changes; and the travelling speed is controlled to not exceed the upper-limit speed even if the accelerator pedal depression amount increases to cause the speed of the vehicle to exceed the upper-limit speed. The speed of the vehicle is controlled, until a predetermined timing, to not exceed the upper-limit speed determined before the start of a lane change is estimated, if (i) the start of a lane change is estimated, and (ii) a reduction in the speed limit is determined. After the predetermined timing, the speed of the vehicle is controlled to not exceed the currently determined upper-limit speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Yamashita, Takashi Inoue, Tetsuya Taira, Takato Masuda, Nobuyuki Tomatsu, Sokfan Yee
  • Patent number: 10046763
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes an imaging device; a co-ECU to limit the travel speed of the vehicle; and an ECU to set the speed limit, that recognizes the speed limit value on a road while traveling, and sets the recognized speed limit value in the co-ECU. If the elapsed time since the speed limit value has been set reaches a predetermined time, the ECU estimates the speed limit value on the road while traveling, and if receiving a switch command, switches the speed limit value set in the co-ECU to the estimated speed limit value so as to avoid limiting the vehicle speed by a speed limit value that is different from the actual speed limit value on the road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Inoue, Sokfan Yee, Tetsuya Taira, Keiji Yamashita, Nobuyuki Tomatsu, Takato Masuda
  • Patent number: 10046764
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a limiter device, and a setting device to set an upper speed limit on the limiter device, based on speed limit values extracted from image information. The setting device includes a derivation unit to derive a condition to raise display priority for each speed limit value; an obtainment unit to obtain determination information for determining whether the condition is satisfied; a calculation unit to raise the display priority of the speed limit value that corresponds to the condition determined satisfied with the determination information, among the speed limit values extracted from the image information; a display control unit to display the speed limit values in descending order of the display priority; and a setting unit configured to set the upper speed limit on the limiter device, based on one of the displayed speed limit values, selected by an occupant of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takato Masuda, Takashi Inoue, Tetsuya Taira, Keiji Yamashita, Nobuyuki Tomatsu, Sokfan Yee
  • Publication number: 20180079412
    Abstract: A vehicle speed limiter system installed on a vehicle includes a detection unit to detect a speed limit value of a road while the vehicle is traveling; a setting unit to set the speed limit value; a limiter unit to limit the vehicle speed, based on the speed limit value; an obtainment unit to obtain a stepping amount on an accelerator pedal; a calculation unit to calculate a parameter depending on the stepping amount in a state where the vehicle speed is being limited by the limiter unit; and a display unit to display information based on the parameter, in a case where a speed limit value newly detected by the detection unit is greater than the speed limit value previously set by the setting unit, before the setting unit sets the speed limit value newly detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki TOMATSU, Takashi INOUE, Sokfan YEE, Tetsuya TAIRA, Keiji YAMASHITA, Takato MASUDA
  • Patent number: 9855949
    Abstract: A vehicle speed limiter system installed on a vehicle includes a detection unit to detect a speed limit value of a road while the vehicle is traveling; a setting unit to set the speed limit value; a limiter unit to limit the vehicle speed, based on the speed limit value; an obtainment unit to obtain a stepping amount on an accelerator pedal; a calculation unit to calculate a parameter depending on the stepping amount in a state where the vehicle speed is being limited by the limiter unit; and a display unit to display information based on the parameter, in a case where a speed limit value newly detected by the detection unit is greater than the speed limit value previously set by the setting unit, before the setting unit sets the speed limit value newly detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Tomatsu, Takashi Inoue, Sokfan Yee, Tetsuya Taira, Keiji Yamashita, Takato Masuda
  • Patent number: 9845093
    Abstract: A vehicle speed limiting apparatus includes an opening detection unit to detect an opening of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle; an estimation unit to estimate whether the vehicle starts a lane change; and an ECU to implement an upper-limit setting unit to set an upper-limit speed of the vehicle, a vehicle speed control unit to control the traveling speed so as not to exceed the upper-limit speed even when the opening of the accelerator pedal becomes great enough to make the traveling speed exceed the upper-limit speed, and a permissible speed setting unit to set a permissible speed higher than the upper-limit speed. When the estimation unit estimates that the vehicle starts the lane change, the vehicle speed control unit permits the traveling speed to exceed the upper-limit speed, and controls the traveling speed so as not to exceed the permissible speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Yamashita, Takashi Inoue, Tetsuya Taira, Takato Masuda, Nobuyuki Tomatsu, Sokfan Yee
  • Publication number: 20170106864
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a limiter device, and a setting device to set an upper speed limit on the limiter device, based on speed limit values extracted from image information. The setting device includes a derivation unit to derive a condition to raise display priority for each speed limit value; an obtainment unit to obtain determination information for determining whether the condition is satisfied; a calculation unit to raise the display priority of the speed limit value that corresponds to the condition determined satisfied with the determination information, among the speed limit values extracted from the image information; a display control unit to display the speed limit values in descending order of the display priority; and a setting unit configured to set the upper speed limit on the limiter device, based on one of the displayed speed limit values, selected by an occupant of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takato MASUDA, Takashi INOUE, Tetsuya TAIRA, Keiji YAMASHITA, Nobuyuki TOMATSU, Sokfan YEE
  • Publication number: 20160347175
    Abstract: A vehicle's accelerator pedal depression amount is detected; a speed limit of a road on which the vehicle is traveling is determined; a start of a lane change is estimated; an upper-limit speed is determined each time when the speed limit changes; and the travelling speed is controlled to not exceed the upper-limit speed even if the accelerator pedal depression amount increases to cause the speed of the vehicle to exceed the upper-limit speed. The speed of the vehicle is controlled, until a predetermined timing, to not exceed the upper-limit speed determined before the start of a lane change is estimated, if (i) the start of a lane change is estimated, and (ii) a reduction in the speed limit is determined. After the predetermined timing, the speed of the vehicle is controlled to not exceed the currently determined upper-limit speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji YAMASHITA, Takashi INOUE, Tetsuya TAIRA, Takato MASUDA, Nobuyuki TOMATSU, Sokfan YEE
  • Publication number: 20160347312
    Abstract: A vehicle speed limiter system installed on a vehicle includes a detection unit to detect a speed limit value of a road while the vehicle is traveling; a setting unit to set the speed limit value; a limiter unit to limit the vehicle speed, based on the speed limit value; an obtainment unit to obtain a stepping amount on an accelerator pedal; a calculation unit to calculate a parameter depending on the stepping amount in a state where the vehicle speed is being limited by the limiter unit; and a display unit to display information based on the parameter, in a case where a speed limit value newly detected by the detection unit is greater than the speed limit value previously set by the setting unit, before the setting unit sets the speed limit value newly detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki TOMATSU, Takashi INOUE, Sokfan YEE, Tetsuya TAIRA, Keiji YAMASHITA, Takato MASUDA
  • Publication number: 20160347313
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes an imaging device; a co-ECU to limit the travel speed of the vehicle; and an ECU to set the speed limit, that recognizes the speed limit value on a road while traveling, and sets the recognized speed limit value in the co-ECU. If the elapsed time since the speed limit value has been set reaches a predetermined time, the ECU estimates the speed limit value on the road while traveling, and if receiving a switch command, switches the speed limit value set in the co-ECU to the estimated speed limit value so as to avoid limiting the vehicle speed by a speed limit value that is different from the actual speed limit value on the road.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi INOUE, Sokfan YEE, Tetsuya TAIRA, Keiji YAMASHITA, Nobuyuki TOMATSU, Takato MASUDA
  • Publication number: 20160339913
    Abstract: A vehicle speed limiting apparatus includes an opening detection unit to detect an opening of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle; an estimation unit to estimate whether the vehicle starts a lane change; and an ECU to implement an upper-limit setting unit to set an upper-limit speed of the vehicle, a vehicle speed control unit to control the traveling speed so as not to exceed the upper-limit speed even when the opening of the accelerator pedal becomes great enough to make the traveling speed exceed the upper-limit speed, and a permissible speed setting unit to set a permissible speed higher than the upper-limit speed. When the estimation unit estimates that the vehicle starts the lane change, the vehicle speed control unit permits the traveling speed to exceed the upper-limit speed, and controls the traveling speed so as not to exceed the permissible speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji YAMASHITA, Takashi INOUE, Tetsuya TAIRA, Takato MASUDA, Nobuyuki TOMATSU, Sokfan YEE
  • Patent number: 7854132
    Abstract: The present invention provides a circulation cooling system of a cryogenic cable in which a reserver unit can be made smaller and a conventional adjustment mechanism or adjustment task of the amount of a refrigerant within a reserver unit is not necessary. The circulation cooling system of a cryogenic cable according to the present invention has a reserver unit storing a refrigerant and a cable cooling portion cooling down a cable by the refrigerant sent from the reserver unit and the refrigerant sent from the cable cooling portion is returned to the reserver unit again for circulation. The system is characterized in that it has a refrigerant temperature adjustment mechanism to keep constant the amount of the refrigerant within the reserver unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chizuru Suzawa, Takato Masuda
  • Patent number: 7729731
    Abstract: A terminal structure of a superconducting cable is provided that is capable of preventing degradation in airtightness of a seal provided on the boundary between a room-temperature side and a cryogenic side for a long-term use. The terminal structure includes a terminal of a superconducting cable, a bushing providing electrical conduction with a superconducting conductor of the cable, and a refrigerant bath housing the terminal and the bushing. The refrigerant bath includes a liquid nitrogen layer in its cryogenic side and a nitrogen gas layer in its room-temperature side that are adjacent to each other. In the nitrogen gas layer, distance t between an inner surface of the refrigerant bath and an outer periphery of the bushing is dimensioned such that nitrogen gas is kept in a gaseous state without being pressurized by a pressurizer and respective pressures of nitrogen gas and liquid nitrogen counterbalance each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Ashibe, Takato Masuda
  • Patent number: 7614243
    Abstract: A method of operating a superconducting cable using a conductor cooled by a refrigerant to transmit electric power causes a change in the refrigerant temperature to change the transmission capacity of a superconducting cable(110, 120, 130). Since superconducting materials are capable of increasing the value of their critical current as the temperature decreases, the refrigerant temperature may be changed to change the transmission capacity of the superconducting cable (110, 120, 130) without overdesigning of cabling or an additional cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takato Masuda, Hiroyasu Yumura
  • Patent number: 7439448
    Abstract: A phase split structure of a superconducting cable includes three cable cores each having a shield layer provided around a superconductor, a splitter box housing the three cable cores extending from an assembly portion where the three cable cores are assembled into the cable, in a state in which the cable cores are spaced apart from each other, and an electrically-conductive connecting portion connecting respective shield layers of the cable cores to each other within the splitter box. In this way, occurrence of a large magnetic field outside the cable cores can effectively be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., The Tokyo Electric Power Company Incorporated
    Inventors: Takato Masuda, Hiroyasu Yumura, Yoshihisa Takahashi, Kimiyoshi Matsuo, Shoichi Honjo, Tomoo Mimura