Patents by Inventor Toshiaki Niwa

Toshiaki Niwa 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: 11120395
    Abstract: A delivery system includes a vehicle and a management server configured to communicate with the vehicle. The vehicle is configured to perform unmanned driving and used to deliver a baggage to a designated delivery destination. When an arrival time of a user, who moves to the delivery destination without riding on the vehicle, to the delivery destination is set, the management server is configured to transmit, to the vehicle, an instruction for moving the vehicle in accordance with a delivery route searched to allow the vehicle to reach the delivery destination at the set arrival time. The vehicle moves to the delivery destination in accordance with the instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naomi Kataoka, Toshiaki Niwa, Yasuhiro Baba, Katsuhiko Yourou, Kazuyuki Kagawa
  • Patent number: 10997798
    Abstract: A depleted EV transmits first information including a current location of the depleted EV to a server. Each of the other vehicles transmits second information including a current location of the vehicle to the server. When the server receives from the depleted EV a help signal requesting power supply from another vehicle to the depleted EV, the server selects, from among the other vehicles, a rescue EV to supply electric power to the depleted EV, using the first information and the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki Niwa, Naomi Kataoka, Yasuhiro Baba, Katsuhiko Yourou, Kazuyuki Kagawa
  • Patent number: 10994615
    Abstract: Each vehicle includes a detection device configured to detect a situation outside the vehicle. When a server receives from a depleted EV a help signal requesting power supply from another vehicle to the depleted EV, the server selects, from among the other vehicles, a rescue EV to supply electric power to the depleted EV. The rescue EV moves to the depleted EV, stops behind the depleted EV detected by the detection device, and supplies power to the depleted EV while being stopped behind the depleted EV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Yourou, Naomi Kataoka, Toshiaki Niwa, Yasuhiro Baba, Kazuyuki Kagawa
  • Patent number: 10994616
    Abstract: Each vehicle includes a detection device configured to detect a situation outside the vehicle. When a server receives from a depleted EV a help signal requesting power supply from another vehicle to the depleted EV, the server selects, from among the other vehicles, a rescue EV to supply electric power to the depleted EV. The rescue EV moves to the depleted EV, determines a stopping position of the rescue EV from a situation around the depleted EV detected by the detection device, and performs power supply to the depleted EV at the stopping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kagawa, Naomi Kataoka, Toshiaki Niwa, Yasuhiro Baba, Katsuhiko Yourou
  • Patent number: 10802502
    Abstract: A movable body utilization system includes: a vehicle configured to perform automated driving; and a server configured to communicate with the vehicle. The server selects the vehicle conforming to a demand of a user who is not an owner of the vehicle when the server receives a utilization application for utilizing the vehicle for a predetermined purpose by the user, the demand including the vehicle utilizable for the predetermined purpose and a utilization fee of the vehicle. Then, the server transmits, to the selected vehicle, an instruction for allowing the user to utilize the vehicle. In accordance with the instruction, the vehicle is configured to move to the user who has made the utilization application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Yourou, Naomi Kataoka, Toshiaki Niwa, Yasuhiro Baba, Kazuyuki Kagawa
  • Patent number: 10777105
    Abstract: A vehicle is a movable body capable of traveling in a driver-operated mode and traveling in a driverless mode, and includes an advertisement display device and a controller. The advertisement display device is configured to switch between a first state to provide an advertisement outside of the vehicle and a second state to provide no advertisement outside of the vehicle. The controller is configured to control the advertisement display device to enter the first state during traveling in the driverless mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kagawa, Naomi Kataoka, Toshiaki Niwa, Yasuhiro Baba, Katsuhiko Yourou
  • Publication number: 20200149895
    Abstract: A transfer guiding device includes: a reception unit that receives a destination of a first vehicle used by a user; a search unit that searches for first and second routes along which the user travels from the first vehicle's current location to the destination respectively by the first vehicle and by the first and second vehicles; a calculation unit that calculates a first arrival time at which the user arrives at the destination by the first route, based on a first required time to travel through the first route, and a second arrival time at which the user arrives at the destination by the second route, based on a second required time to travel through the second route; and a transmission unit that transmits a message for recommending the user to transfer to the second vehicle when the first arrival time is later than the second arrival time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiro OE, Michio IKEDA, Kohei UEZATO, Masashi YAMADA, Kenichi KOMURO, Toshiaki NIWA
  • Publication number: 20200143458
    Abstract: A receiving section configured to receive a usage application message containing use start time of a vehicle intended for car sharing and a rent-out place of the vehicle, an identification section configured to, based on a current position of a transporter vehicle that is able to transport the vehicle, identify the transporter vehicle that reaches the rent-out place by the use start time, a first sending section configured to send a move instruction message to the transporter vehicle identified by the identification section to instruct the transporter vehicle to move to the rent-out place, and a second sending section configured to send information on the vehicle that is being transported by the transporter vehicle identified by the identification section to a source from which the usage application message is sent, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michio IKEDA, Kohei UEZATO, Yoshihiro OHE, Masashi YAMADA, Kenichi KOMURO, Toshiaki NIWA
  • Publication number: 20190164127
    Abstract: A delivery system includes a vehicle and a management server configured to communicate with the vehicle. The vehicle is configured to perform unmanned driving and used to deliver a baggage to a designated delivery destination. When an arrival time of a user, who moves to the delivery destination without riding on the vehicle, to the delivery destination is set, the management server is configured to transmit, to the vehicle, an instruction for moving the vehicle in accordance with a delivery route searched to allow the vehicle to reach the delivery destination at the set arrival time. The vehicle moves to the delivery destination in accordance with the instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naomi KATAOKA, Toshiaki NIWA, Yasuhiro BABA, Katsuhiko YOUROU, Kazuyuki KAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190138023
    Abstract: Each vehicle is configured to perform automated driving and includes a camera and an ECU. The camera is configured to capture an image of a situation outside the vehicle. The ECU receives an image capture request including an image capture location through a communication module. The ECU performs control for causing the vehicle to move to the image capture location and capturing an image of a situation outside the vehicle by the camera in accordance with the image capture request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki NIWA, Naomi KATAOKA, Yasuhiro BABA, Katsuhiko YOUROU, Kazuyuki KAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190126757
    Abstract: Each vehicle includes a detection device configured to detect a situation outside the vehicle. When a server receives from a depleted EV a help signal requesting power supply from another vehicle to the depleted EV, the server selects, from among the other vehicles, a rescue EV to supply electric power to the depleted EV. The rescue EV moves to the depleted EV, determines a stopping position of the rescue EV from a situation around the depleted EV detected by the detection device, and performs power supply to the depleted EV at the stopping position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki KAGAWA, Naomi KATAOKA, Toshiaki NIWA, Yasuhiro BABA, Katsuhiko YOUROU
  • Publication number: 20190130800
    Abstract: A vehicle is a movable body capable of traveling in a driver-operated mode and traveling in a driverless mode, and includes an advertisement display device and a controller. The advertisement display device is configured to switch between a first state to provide an advertisement outside of the vehicle and a second state to provide no advertisement outside of the vehicle. The controller is configured to control the advertisement display device to enter the first state during traveling in the driverless mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuyuki KAGAWA, Naomi KATAOKA, Toshiaki NIWA, Yasuhiro BABA, Katsuhiko YOUROU
  • Publication number: 20190126756
    Abstract: Each vehicle includes a detection device configured to detect a situation outside the vehicle. When a server receives from a depleted EV a help signal requesting power supply from another vehicle to the depleted EV, the server selects, from among the other vehicles, a rescue EV to supply electric power to the depleted EV. The rescue EV moves to the depleted EV, stops behind the depleted EV detected by the detection device, and supplies power to the depleted EV while being stopped behind the depleted EV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko YOUROU, Naomi KATAOKA, Toshiaki NIWA, Yasuhiro BABA, Kazuyuki KAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190126768
    Abstract: A depleted EV transmits first information including a current location of the depleted EV to a server. Each of the other vehicles transmits second information including a current location of the vehicle to the server. When the server receives from the depleted EV a help signal requesting power supply from another vehicle to the depleted EV, the server selects, from among the other vehicles, a rescue EV to supply electric power to the depleted EV, using the first information and the second information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki NIWA, Naomi KATAOKA, Yasuhiro BABA, Katsuhiko YOUROU, Kazuyuki KAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190130331
    Abstract: A management server is configured to receive a flight schedule and a boarding procedure progress status of a user from an airport server configured to manage a boarding procedure of the user, and is configured to specify a location of a delayed user in the airport, the delayed user being a user who is delayed for the boarding procedure. The management server is configured to dispatch a vehicle to the delayed user and transmit, to the vehicle, an instruction for carrying the delayed user to a location of a procedure which the delayed user has not been through in the boarding procedure. The vehicle is configured to: move to the delayed user in accordance with the instruction; and move, in accordance with the instruction, to the location of the procedure which the delayed user has not been through, after the delayed user rides on the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naomi KATAOKA, Toshiaki NIWA, Yasuhiro BABA, Katsuhiko YOUROU, Kazuyuki KAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190121366
    Abstract: A movable body utilization system includes: a vehicle configured to perform automated driving; and a server configured to communicate with the vehicle. The server selects the vehicle conforming to a demand of a user who is not an owner of the vehicle when the server receives a utilization application for utilizing the vehicle for a predetermined purpose by the user, the demand including the vehicle utilizable for the predetermined purpose and a utilization fee of the vehicle. Then, the server transmits, to the selected vehicle, an instruction for allowing the user to utilize the vehicle. In accordance with the instruction, the vehicle is configured to move to the user who has made the utilization application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsuhiko YOUROU, Naomi KATAOKA, Toshiaki NIWA, Yasuhiro BABA, Kazuyuki KAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190121358
    Abstract: A movable body utilization system includes: a vehicle configured to perform automated driving; and a server configured to communicate with the vehicle. When the server receives a utilization application for utilizing the vehicle for a predetermined purpose by a user who is not an owner of the vehicle, the server is configured to transmit, to the vehicle, an instruction for allowing the user to utilize the vehicle in accordance with the utilization application. In accordance with the instruction, the vehicle is configured to move to the user who has made the utilization application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki NIWA, Naomi KATAOKA, Yasuhiro BABA, Katsuhiko YOUROU, Kazuyuki KAGAWA
  • Patent number: 10030983
    Abstract: Support point management systems, methods, and programs acquire a support point registered as a subject of deceleration support and exclude the support point as the subject of deceleration support in a case a vehicle travels on a new road after having traveled through the support point without deceleration at the support point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki Niwa, Tomoki Kodan, Kuniaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9964144
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for a fluid dynamic bearing device, the method involving: forming an axial clearance 14 having a clearance width ? equal to a total amount of clearance widths of two thrust bearing clearances ?1, ?2 between a second bearing surface C of a bearing member 22 fixed to an outer periphery of a shaft member 21 and a sealing member 9; relatively moving the shaft member 21, the shaft member 22, and the sealing member 9 with respect to a housing 7 while the clearance width ? of the axial clearance 14 is maintained after forming the axial clearance 14; and fixing the sealing member 9 to the housing 7 at a time when a first thrust bearing surface B of the bearing member 22 comes into contact with a bottom surface 7b of the housing 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daichi Kato, Toshiaki Niwa
  • Patent number: 9889828
    Abstract: There are provided a deceleration end location storage system that can appropriately store a deceleration end location at which a vehicle ends deceleration in decelerating action even for a road on which the content of the decelerating action tends to vary because of a disturbance such as a road with a large amount of traffic, and a drive assist system, a drive assist method, and a computer program that can provide appropriate drive assistance for a vehicle on the basis of stored deceleration end locations. In the case where a vehicle performs decelerating action, a deceleration end location at which the vehicle ends deceleration in the decelerating action is specified. A variation range that matches the road type of a road on which the deceleration end location is provided is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiaki Niwa, Takashi Fukukawa, Tomoki Kodan, Kuniaki Tanaka