Patents by Inventor Tetsuya Taira
Tetsuya Taira 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).
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Publication number: 20170023943Abstract: An autonomous moving object includes: at least one distance sensor configured to detect distances to first and second positions located in a moving direction of the autonomous moving object on a road surface; and a determination unit configured to calculate a difference between a differential time between a time when the distance value to the first position detected by the at least one distance sensor is greater than a first threshold value and a time when the distance value to the second position is greater than a second threshold value and a moving time in which the autonomous moving object moves between the first and second positions and to determine that the distance sensor is abnormal only when the calculated difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tetsuya TAIRA
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Patent number: 9550496Abstract: A travel control apparatus is configured to perform an overtaking travel on a host vehicle with a vehicle travelling ahead as an overtaking target vehicle during an autonomous driving of the host vehicle. In a case where the overtaking travel starts, the apparatus determines whether or not the overtaking target vehicle accelerates during the overtaking travel. In a case where it is determined that the overtaking target vehicle accelerates, the apparatus determines whether or not a front vehicle is present in front of the overtaking target vehicle. In a case where it is determined that the front vehicle is not present, the apparatus stops the overtaking travel of the host vehicle, and in a case where it is determined that the front vehicle is present, the apparatus continues the overtaking travel of the host vehicle under a predetermined condition.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2016Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ikuma Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Tetsuya Taira
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Patent number: 9540014Abstract: An abnormality determination system includes: an autonomous moving object including at least one distance measuring unit that is disposed to face a road surface in a moving direction ant that measures a distance to the road surface; a charging unit including a connection terminal for charging a battery of the autonomous moving object; a stepped portion disposed on a road surface which is subjected to measurement by the distance measuring unit when the autonomous moving object is connected to the connection terminal of the charging unit and is positioned; and a determination unit configured to determine whether the distance to the stepped portion measured by the distance measuring unit at the time of positioning is less than a threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2014Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya Taira, Yutaka Takaoka
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Publication number: 20160347313Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takashi INOUE, Sokfan YEE, Tetsuya TAIRA, Keiji YAMASHITA, Nobuyuki TOMATSU, Takato MASUDA
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Publication number: 20160347312Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Nobuyuki TOMATSU, Takashi INOUE, Sokfan YEE, Tetsuya TAIRA, Keiji YAMASHITA, Takato MASUDA
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Publication number: 20160347175Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keiji YAMASHITA, Takashi INOUE, Tetsuya TAIRA, Takato MASUDA, Nobuyuki TOMATSU, Sokfan YEE
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Publication number: 20160339913Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Keiji YAMASHITA, Takashi INOUE, Tetsuya TAIRA, Takato MASUDA, Nobuyuki TOMATSU, Sokfan YEE
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Publication number: 20160318518Abstract: A travel control apparatus is configured to perform an overtaking travel on a host vehicle with a vehicle travelling ahead as an overtaking target vehicle during an autonomous driving of the host vehicle. In a case where the overtaking travel starts, the apparatus determines whether or not the overtaking target vehicle accelerates during the overtaking travel. In a case where it is determined that the overtaking target vehicle accelerates, the apparatus determines whether or not a front vehicle is present in front of the overtaking target vehicle. In a case where it is determined that the front vehicle is not present, the apparatus stops the overtaking travel of the host vehicle, and in a case where it is determined that the front vehicle is present, the apparatus continues the overtaking travel of the host vehicle under a predetermined condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ikuma SUZUKI, Masaki MATSUNAGA, Tetsuya TAIRA
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Publication number: 20160304097Abstract: A vehicle traveling control device includes an acquisition unit that acquires surrounding information on the vehicle; an external situation determination unit that determines whether there is space, into which the vehicle will enter, in the adjacent lane based on the surrounding information on the vehicle; and a vehicle control unit that causes the vehicle to change the lane along a traveling trajectory predetermined to change the lane from the traveling lane to the adjacent lane. The vehicle control unit is configured to move the vehicle along the traveling trajectory and place the vehicle in a waiting state at a waiting position if the external situation determination unit determines that there is not the space, and is configured to move the vehicle from the waiting position to the space if the external situation determination unit determines that there is the space while the vehicle is placed in the waiting state.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya TAIRA, Yoshinori WATANABE
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Publication number: 20160259334Abstract: A vehicle control device is capable of switching a driving state of a host vehicle between manual driving and autonomous driving, and determines whether or not another vehicle exists in a driver's blind area set in advance diagonally behind the host vehicle in a case where the driving state of the host vehicle is autonomous driving and when the host vehicle reaches a check timing set in advance. In addition, the vehicle control device executes the control in a case where it is determined that the other vehicle exists in the driver's blind area and when the other vehicle exists, which can be removed from the driver's blind area by the control of at least one of a vehicle speed of the host vehicle and a lateral position of the host vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2016Publication date: September 8, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ryuta HASHIMOTO, Haruto TORII, Tetsuya TAIRA
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Publication number: 20160194003Abstract: A vehicle travelling control device is configured to cause a vehicle to automatically travel along the target lateral position set in a travelling lane in advance. The device includes a peripheral information detection unit configured to detect peripheral information of the vehicle, a preceding vehicle recognition unit configured to recognize a position of the preceding vehicle in an adjacent lane which is adjacent to the travelling lane based on the peripheral information detection unit, and a travel control unit configured to cause the vehicle to automatically travel along a separated lateral position which is separated from the target lateral position at the opposite side of the adjacent lane side in a case where a lost duration that is a continuous period of time during which the position of the preceding vehicle is lost in the preceding vehicle recognition unit reaches a first predetermined time.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2015Publication date: July 7, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Haruto Torii, Ryuta Hashimoto, Tetsuya Taira
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Patent number: 9381967Abstract: An inverted vehicle comprises a first sensor that detects an angular speed around an axis inclined from a pitch axis by a first predetermined angle, a second sensor that detects an angular speed around an axis inclined from the pitch axis by a second predetermined angle, a third sensor that detects an angular speed around the pitch axis, an acceleration detection unit that detects accelerations along the axes, and a control unit that performs the inversion control based on the detected angular speeds. A control unit puts a specific safety function in motion based on a mutual relation among a first angular speed around the pitch axis calculated based on the angular speeds detected by the first and second sensors, a second angular speed around the pitch axis detected by the third sensor, and a third angular speed around the pitch axis calculated based on the detected accelerations.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiro Nakayama, Yusuke Kida, Tetsuya Taira, Hiroshi Bitoh
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Patent number: 9373253Abstract: A safety controller includes a first interrupt signal output unit outputting a first interrupt signal in a cycle synchronous with that of a first carrier signal defining a control cycle of a control target; a second interrupt signal output unit outputting a second interrupt signal in a cycle synchronous with that of a second carrier signal defining a control cycle of the control target, the first and second carrier signals having the same cycle and a predetermined phase difference; and a control unit executing tasks and controlling the control target by switching and scheduling time partitions according to outputs of the first and second interrupt signals from the first and second interrupt signal output units. The control unit stops controlling the control target upon detecting, as an abnormality related to the first and second interrupt signals, that the first and second interrupt signals are not output in a predetermined order.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya Taira, Hiroshi Bitoh
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Patent number: 9268335Abstract: An autonomous vehicle comprises at least one distance measurement means for measuring a distance to a road surface disposed in a vehicle main body, inclination calculation means for calculating an inclination of the vehicle main body based on the distance measured by the distance measurement means, posture calculation means including a sensor that detects at least one of an angular speed and an acceleration of the vehicle main body, the posture calculation means being configured to calculate the inclination of the vehicle main body based on a sensor value detected by the sensor, and failure determination means for determining a failure in each distance measurement means and the posture calculation means by comparing the inclination of the vehicle main body calculated by the inclination calculation means with the inclination of the vehicle main body calculated by the posture calculation means.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2015Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya Taira, Yutaka Takaoka
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Publication number: 20160039488Abstract: An inverted vehicle according to the present invention includes: a riding portion; an output portion; an input portion that receives an input of the signal output from the output portion; a passing/blocking portion which includes a passing portion and a blocking portion; a main support portion that elastically supports the riding portion so that the blocking portion is located between the output portion and the input portion to block passage of the signal when no load is applied to the riding portion, and is compressed and deformed so that the passing portion is located between the output portion and the input portion to allow passage of the signal when a load is applied to the riding portion; and a control portion that performs an inverted traveling control of the inverted vehicle when the signal is passing through a path between the output portion and the input portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: February 11, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya TAIRA, Hiroshi BITOH
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Publication number: 20150259021Abstract: An inverted vehicle comprises a first sensor that detects an angular speed around an axis inclined from a pitch axis by a first predetermined angle, a second sensor that detects an angular speed around an axis inclined from the pitch axis by a second predetermined angle, a third sensor that detects an angular speed around the pitch axis, an acceleration detection unit that detects accelerations along the axes, and a control unit that performs the inversion control based on the detected angular speeds. A control unit puts a specific safety function in motion based on a mutual relation among a first angular speed around the pitch axis calculated based on the angular speeds detected by the first and second sensors, a second angular speed around the pitch axis detected by the third sensor, and a third angular speed around the pitch axis calculated based on the detected accelerations.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2012Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiro KAYAMA, Yusuke KIDA, Tetsuya TAIRA, Hiroshi BITOH
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Publication number: 20150234384Abstract: An autonomous vehicle comprises at least one distance measurement means for measuring a distance to a road surface disposed in a vehicle main body, inclination calculation means for calculating an inclination of the vehicle main body based on the distance measured by the distance measurement means, posture calculation means including a sensor that detects at least one of an angular speed and an acceleration of the vehicle main body, the posture calculation means being configured to calculate the inclination of the vehicle main body based on a sensor value detected by the sensor, and failure determination means for determining a failure in each distance measurement means and the posture calculation means by comparing the inclination of the vehicle main body calculated by the inclination calculation means with the inclination of the vehicle main body calculated by the posture calculation means.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Tetsuya TAIRA, Yutaka TAKAOKA
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Publication number: 20150231971Abstract: An inverted vehicle according to the present invention includes a plurality of multiplexed control systems, and performs inversion control and thereby moves by providing torque to a wheel and thereby driving the wheel by using the plurality of control systems. The control systems include a switching detection unit that detects switching to inversion control in which at least one of the plurality of control systems is disabled, and an inversion control unit that performs inversion control of the inverted vehicle while restricting at least one of a speed and a posture angle of the inverted vehicle when the switching of the inversion control is detected by the switching detection unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2012Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tetsuya Taira, Hiroshi Bitoh
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Publication number: 20150151741Abstract: An autonomous moving object includes: a drive unit configured to drive wheels of a moving object body; a plurality of distance measuring units installed to face a road surface and configured to measure a distance to the road surface; a control unit configured to compare the distance measured by the distance measuring units with a threshold value and to control the drive unit; a tilt angle detecting unit configured to detect a tilt angle of the moving object body; and a correction unit configured to correct at least one of the distance measured by each distance measuring unit and the threshold value depending on the tilt angle of the moving object body detected by the tilt angle detecting unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2014Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: Tetsuya TAIRA, Yutaka TAKAOKA
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Publication number: 20150151765Abstract: An abnormality determination system includes: an autonomous moving object including at least one distance measuring unit that is disposed to face a road surface in a moving direction ant that measures a distance to the road surface; a charging unit including a connection terminal for charging a battery of the autonomous moving object; a stepped portion disposed on a road surface which is subjected to measurement by the distance measuring unit when the autonomous moving object is connected to the connection terminal of the charging unit and is positioned; and a determination unit configured to determine whether the distance to the stepped portion measured by the distance measuring unit at the time of positioning is less than a threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2014Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: Tetsuya TAIRA, Yutaka TAKAOKA