Patents by Inventor Tatsuhiko Monji

Tatsuhiko Monji 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).

  • Publication number: 20170221188
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing an imaging device that prevents mismatching in image matching for parallax calculation even if the sharpnesses of an end part and center part of a processing area differ. An imaging device 1 according to the present invention is provided with a means for equalizing the sharpnesses of the processing areas of a reference image and a comparison image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki AOKI, Takeshi SHIMA, Tatsuhiko MONJI, Hiroshi KURODA, Keiichi BETSUI, Seiji MURATA
  • Patent number: 9704047
    Abstract: To provide a moving object recognition apparatus that earlier detects a moving object crossing a road, the moving object recognition apparatus includes a left imaging unit 101, a right imaging unit 102, a moving object detection unit that detects a moving object based on images imaged by the left imaging unit and the right imaging unit, wherein, suppose that non-overlap regions in which an imaging region of the left imaging unit 101 and an imaging region of the right imaging unit 102 do not overlap are first regions 203, 204 and an overlap region in which the imaging region of the left imaging unit and the imaging region of the right imaging unit overlap is a second region 205, the moving object detection unit uses different methods of detecting the moving object between the first regions and the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Shima, Haruki Matono, Hiroto Morizane, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Publication number: 20170039434
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to obtain an external environment-recognizing apparatus with which it is possible to obtain detection results having a necessary accuracy when a plurality of target objects from a captured image are detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Takeshi SHIMA, Toshiyuki AOKI, Haruki MATONO, Tatsuhiko MONJI, Rikiya KASHIMURA, Yasuto ARAKAKI
  • Patent number: 9456199
    Abstract: Although a conventional method can eliminate a mounting position deviation when left and right camera units only are taken into consideration, a problem is posed that deviation again occurs due to poor machining precision and assembly precision at the mounting surface between a camera unit and a member when a camera unit is mounted to a stay. According to this invention, mounting surfaces for mounting left and right imaging elements to a stay are provided to directly position left and right imaging elements to the stay, whereby built-up tolerance between components is reduced and the positional mounting precision between imaging elements is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Ohsumi, Masaaki Fukuhara, Tatsuhiko Monji, Norio Koike
  • Patent number: 9443313
    Abstract: A stereo camera apparatus which carries out distance measuring stably and with high accuracy by making measuring distance resolution variable according to a distance to an object is provided. A stereo camera apparatus 1 takes in two images, changes resolution of a partial area of each image that is taken in, and calculates a distance from a vehicle to an object that is imaged in the partial area, based on disparity of the partial area of each image in which resolution is changed. Thus, even when the object exists at a long distance and is small in size, distance measuring processing can be carried out stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Muramatsu, Mirai Higuchi, Tatsuhiko Monji, Soichiro Yokota, Morihiko Sakano, Takeshi Shima
  • Publication number: 20150339825
    Abstract: A stereo camera apparatus which carries out distance measuring stably and with high accuracy by making measuring distance resolution variable according to a distance to an object is provided. A stereo camera apparatus 1 takes in two images, changes resolution of a partial area of each image that is taken in, and calculates a distance from a vehicle to an object that is imaged in the partial area, based on disparity of the partial area of each image in which resolution is changed. Thus, even when the object exists at a long distance and is small in size, distance measuring processing can be carried out stably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Shoji MURAMATSU, Mirai HIGUCHI, Tatsuhiko MONJI, Soichiro YOKOTA, Morihiko SAKANO, Takeshi SHIMA
  • Publication number: 20150235093
    Abstract: To provide a moving object recognition apparatus that earlier detects a moving object crossing a road, the moving object recognition apparatus includes a left imaging unit 101, a right imaging unit 102, a moving object detection unit that detects a moving object based on images imaged by the left imaging unit and the right imaging unit, wherein, suppose that non-overlap regions in which an imaging region of the left imaging unit 101 and an imaging region of the right imaging unit 102 do not overlap are first regions 203, 204 and an overlap region in which the imaging region of the left imaging unit and the imaging region of the right imaging unit overlap is a second region 205, the moving object detection unit uses different methods of detecting the moving object between the first regions and the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Takeshi Shima, Haruki Matono, Hiroto Morizane, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Patent number: 9077907
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus that can implement image recognition processing on all of objects to be recognized, and can reduce a load of capturing and transferring images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mirai Higuchi, Masahiro Kiyohara, Takeshi Shima, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Patent number: 9074906
    Abstract: A road shape recognition device capable of accurately recognizing the road shape of a road that lies ahead in the travel direction of a vehicle is provided. A road shape recognition device 1 detects a road region of the road based on an image capturing a scene ahead in the travel direction of the vehicle, and estimates the shape of the road based on that road region. Thus, it is possible to accurately recognize road shapes over distances ranging from short to long.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mirai Higuchi, Morihiko Sakano, Takeshi Shima, Shoji Muramatsu, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Patent number: 9064418
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted environment recognition apparatus including a simple pattern matching unit which extracts an object candidate from an image acquired from a vehicle-mounted image capturing apparatus by using a pattern shape stored in advance and outputs a position of the object candidate, an area change amount prediction unit which calculates a change amount prediction of the extracted object candidate on the basis of an object change amount prediction calculation method set differently for each area of a plurality of areas obtained by dividing the acquired image, detected vehicle behavior information, and an inputted position of the object candidate, and outputs a predicted position of an object, and a tracking unit which tracks the object on the basis of an inputted predicted position of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Takemura, Shoji Muramatsu, Isao Furusawa, Shinya Ohtsuji, Takeshi Shima, Yuji Otsuka, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Patent number: 9058746
    Abstract: Provided are an information processing device and a processing method both of which are capable of executing processing in response to a traveling situation of a vehicle, thereby securing safety at the time of emergency while securing convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Takemura, Shoji Muramatsu, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Patent number: 9042604
    Abstract: An image pickup device that acquires images is controlled by an image pickup device controller that accepts image acquisition requests from multiple application programs, and an application scheduler selects application programs to be executed. Information indicative of the image data volumes and image data acquisition rates required for each of the multiple application programs is stored and used to select multiple concurrently executable application programs on the basis of the image data volumes and image data acquisition rates. An image acquisition scheduler determines the timing and intervals at which the multiple executable application programs repeat receiving image data from the image pickup device, without overlapping in terms of time. In addition, an operations section, which explicitly presents concurrently executable application programs to a user and commands the startup of these programs, is displayed on a navigation screen menu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Muramatsu, Yuuji Otsuka, Hiroshi Takenaga, Tatsuhiko Monji, Jiro Takezaki, Isao Furusawa
  • Patent number: 8885888
    Abstract: An in-vehicle running-environment recognition apparatus including an input unit for inputting an image signal from in-vehicle imaging devices for photographing external environment of a vehicle, an image processing unit for detecting a first image area by processing the image signal, the first image area having a factor which prevents recognition of the external environment, an image determination unit for determining a second image area based on at least any one of size of the first image area, position thereof, and set-up positions of the in-vehicle imaging devices having the first image area, an environment recognition processing being performed in the second image area, the first image area being detected by the image processing unit, and an environment recognition unit for recognizing the external environment of the vehicle based on the second image area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mirai Higuchi, Yuji Otsuka, Takeshi Shima, Kimiyoshi Machii, Shoji Muramatsu, Kota Irie, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Patent number: 8878935
    Abstract: In the present invention, images at a front side or a rear side of a vehicle are obtained from a plurality of image capturing devices and a disparity and a distance to the captured object are calculated from the images, if the disparity is not sufficiently obtained, pattern light is irradiated onto a capturing object and an image of the object onto which the pattern light is irradiated is obtained again from the plurality of image capturing devices and the disparity and the distance to the captured object are calculated. Therefore, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle camera and system that recognizes an obstacle even in a situation where it is difficult to obtain the disparity of the obstacle around the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kourogi, Tatsuhiko Monji
  • Patent number: 8873803
    Abstract: Disclosed is a road-shoulder detecting device including a distance-information calculating portion for calculating the presence of a physical object and the distance from the subject vehicle to the object from input three-dimensional image information relating to an environment around the vehicle, a vehicular road surface detecting portion for detecting a vehicular road surface with the subject vehicle from a distance image, a height difference calculating portion for measuring height difference between the detected vehicular road and an off-road region, and a road shoulder decision portion for deciding height difference as to whether the road shoulder is boundary between the surface and the region in a case where there is an off-road region lower than the vehicular road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Shima, Mirai Higuchi, Shoji Muramatsu, Tatsuhiko Monji, Takuya Naka
  • Patent number: 8818026
    Abstract: An object recognition device includes; an image-capturing unit mounted to a mobile body; an image generation unit that converts images captured by the image-capturing unit at different time points to corresponding synthesized images as seen vertically downwards from above; a detection unit that compares together a plurality of the synthesized images and detects corresponding regions; and a recognition unit that recognizes an object present upon the road surface from a difference between the corresponding regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kiyohara, Kota Irie, Naoki Kourogi, Tatsuhiko Monji, Yoshitaka Takahashi, Shoji Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 8730325
    Abstract: A traveling lane detector according to the present invention includes: an imaging unit mounted on a vehicle to take a road surface image; and an image processor performing image processing on the image to detect lane marks on the road surface. The image processor judges whether the vehicle is crossing the lane marks, and, when the vehicle is not crossing any of the lane marks, defines first and second windows, in the image, for detecting the lane marks located respectively on left and right parts of a road surface in front of or behind the vehicle, performs image processing on the image in each of the windows to detect the lane marks, and, when the vehicle is crossing any of the lane marks, defines a third window including the currently-crossed lane mark in the image, performs image processing on the image in the third window to detect the lane mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Otsuka, Masayuki Takemura, Tatsuhiko Monji, Isao Furusawa
  • Publication number: 20140132739
    Abstract: Although a conventional method can eliminate a mounting position deviation when left and right camera units only are taken into consideration, a problem is posed that deviation again occurs due to poor machining precision and assembly precision at the mounting surface between a camera unit and a member when a camera unit is mounted to a stay. According to this invention, mounting surfaces for mounting left and right imaging elements to a stay are provided to directly position left and right imaging elements to the stay, whereby built-up tolerance between components is reduced and the positional mounting precision between imaging elements is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken OHSUMI, Masaaki FUKUHARA, Tatsuhiko MONJI, Norio KOIKE
  • Publication number: 20140118504
    Abstract: Provided is a camera device capable of estimating a road shape ahead of a target vehicle or determining whether or not the target vehicle needs to be decelerated by controlling a brake before a curve, even in the situation where a white line of a traveling road or a roadside three-dimensional object is difficult to detect. A camera device 105 including a plurality of image capturing units 107 and 108 which take images of a traveling road ahead of a target vehicle 106, includes: a three-dimensional object ahead detection unit 114 which detects three-dimensional objects ahead 101 existing in a vicinity of a vanishing point of the traveling road 102 based on the taken images; and a road shape estimation unit 113 which estimates a road shape on a distant portion of the traveling road 102 based on a detection by the three-dimensional object ahead detection unit 114.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi SHIMA, Mirai HIGUCHI, Shoji MURAMATSU, Tatsuhiko MONJI
  • Publication number: 20140078305
    Abstract: An image pickup device that acquires images is controlled by an image pickup device controller that accepts image acquisition requests from multiple application programs, and an application scheduler selects application programs to be executed. Information indicative of the image data volumes and image data acquisition rates required for each of the multiple application programs is stored and used to select multiple concurrently executable application programs on the basis of the image data volumes and image data acquisition rates. An image acquisition scheduler determines the timing and intervals at which the multiple executable application programs repeat receiving image data from the image pickup device, without overlapping in terms of time. In addition, an operations section, which explicitly presents concurrently executable application programs to a user and commands the startup of these programs, is displayed on a navigation screen menu.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Muramatsu, Yuuji Otsuka, Hiroshi Takenaga, Tatsuhiko Monji, Jiro Takezaki, Isao Furusawa