Patents by Inventor Toshinori Esaka

Toshinori Esaka 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: 11872985
    Abstract: Based on a model and an identity of an operator of a vehicle, a setting for a cruise control to maintain a distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle can be determined. The model can be based on historical distances maintained by the operator. The model can also be based on information about an environment in which the vehicle is operating or information about a state of the operator. The identity can be received from an interface configured to receive information associated with the identity, a cloud computing platform, or a biometric system configured to determine the identity. The cruise control can be caused to operate according to the setting. A rate of energy consumption by the vehicle when the vehicle is controlled by the cruise control can be less than the rate of energy consumption when the vehicle lacks being controlled by the cruise control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyungtae Han, Ziran Wang, Prashant Tiwari, John K Lenneman, Toshinori Esaka, Miles J. Johnson, Chase C. Violetta
  • Publication number: 20220314990
    Abstract: Based on a model and an identity of an operator of a vehicle, a setting for a cruise control to maintain a distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle can be determined. The model can be based on historical distances maintained by the operator. The model can also be based on information about an environment in which the vehicle is operating or information about a state of the operator. The identity can be received from an interface configured to receive information associated with the identity, a cloud computing platform, or a biometric system configured to determine the identity. The cruise control can be caused to operate according to the setting. A rate of energy consumption by the vehicle when the vehicle is controlled by the cruise control can be less than the rate of energy consumption when the vehicle lacks being controlled by the cruise control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Kyungtae Han, Ziran Wang, Prashant Tiwari, John K. Lenneman, Toshinori Esaka, Miles J. Johnson, Chase C. Violetta
  • Patent number: 11130522
    Abstract: A lane departure prevention apparatus includes a driving support ECU configured to perform a lane departure prevention control. The driving support ECU performs the lane departure prevention control with vibrating a steering wheel when determining that a control performing condition becomes satisfied and a traveling lane is straight. The control performing condition becomes satisfied when a vehicle has a high probability of departing from the traveling lane. The driving support ECU performs the lane departure control without vibrating the steering wheel at least in a case where the vehicle has a high probability of departing from the traveling lane toward an outer side of the curved lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takenoshin Takahashi, Masaaki Uechi, Toshinori Esaka, Hidenobu Kinugasa
  • Publication number: 20200023899
    Abstract: A lane departure prevention apparatus includes a driving support ECU configured to perform a lane departure prevention control. The driving support ECU performs the lane departure prevention control with vibrating a steering wheel when determining that a control performing condition becomes satisfied and a traveling lane is straight. The control performing condition becomes satisfied when a vehicle has a high probability of departing from the traveling lane. The driving support ECU performs the lane departure control without vibrating the steering wheel at least in a case where the vehicle has a high probability of departing from the traveling lane toward an outer side of the curved lane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takenoshin TAKAHASHI, Masaaki UECHI, Toshinori ESAKA, Hidenobu KINUGASA
  • Patent number: 10328866
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing an image according to one embodiment includes a generating unit, a display control unit, and a change receiving unit. The display control unit generates a synthetic image providing a view of a vehicle from a virtual viewpoint, based on a plurality of onboard camera images. The display control unit displays the generated synthetic image on a display unit. The change receiving unit receives a change in the relative positional relation between an image region that is based on one of the camera images and image regions that are based on the other camera images in the synthetic image. The generating unit generates a synthetic image, based on a changed positional relation every time a change in the positional relation is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Kenta Shimizu, Masahiro Yamada, Yasuyoshi Sawada, Takumi Hayashida, Azusa Matsuoka, Naoyuki Okada, Minoru Fujioka, Yuka Shidochi, Toshinori Esaka
  • Publication number: 20150356735
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing an image according to one embodiment includes a generating unit, a display control unit, and a change receiving unit. The display control unit generates a synthetic image providing a view of a vehicle from a virtual viewpoint, based on a plurality of onboard camera images. The display control unit displays the generated synthetic image on a display unit. The change receiving unit receives a change in the relative positional relation between an image region that is based on one of the camera images and image regions that are based on the other camera images in the synthetic image. The generating unit generates a synthetic image, based on a changed positional relation every time a change in the positional relation is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Kenta SHIMIZU, Masahiro YAMADA, Yasuyoshi SAWADA, Takumi HAYASHIDA, Azusa MATSUOKA, Naoyuki OKADA, Minoru FUJIOKA, Yuka SHIDOCHI, Toshinori ESAKA
  • Publication number: 20150116494
    Abstract: An overhead view image display device includes cameras and that are mounted in a vehicle and capture an image of a vehicle periphery, an image generation unit that converts a viewpoint of the captured image of the vehicle periphery, and compresses an image region of the vehicle periphery toward the vehicle side at a preset compression ratio without using position information of a target present in the vehicle periphery, so as to generate an overhead view image; and a display that displays the generated overhead view image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshinori Esaka, Kohei Maejima
  • Publication number: 20120249794
    Abstract: An image display system including a synthesized image generation section that generates a synthesized image representing a vehicle and circumstances around the vehicle viewed from a virtual viewpoint based on captured images obtained by cameras disposed on the vehicle, a navigation device that displays the synthesized image and the captured images on a display screen, an obstacle detection section that detects an obstacle, and an indication addition section that, when the obstacle is detected, adds an alarm indication to call attention to at least one of an area of the display screen except the synthesized image, and a surrounding area of the synthesized image is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Kouei KIYO, Yasuyoshi SAWADA, Satoshi HARUMOTO, Takeshi TANAKA, Goro ASAI, Yujiro OBATA, Toshinori ESAKA, Yohei SATOMI
  • Patent number: 8204651
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a power supply control device for an electric power steering device used for a power supply system comprises a main battery 40 connected to the electric power steering device via a first power supply line and a sub-battery 50 connected to the electric power steering device via a second power supply line, wherein when detecting the state of the sub-battery, said power supply control device restricts or disconnects power supply from the main battery to the electric power steering device while it permits power supply from the sub-battery to the electric power steering device, characterized in that said power supply control device prevents the detection of the state of the second battery if a vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Tachibana, Koji Ito, Toshinori Esaka, Hidenori Matsuto
  • Patent number: 8097974
    Abstract: A vehicular electric power source controller that controls the electrification of an electrical load mounted in a vehicle includes: a first electrical load that are a portion of the electrical load mounted in the vehicle; a second electrical load that are electrified preferentially over first electrical loads when a vehicle is parked; an electric power source-switching ECU, an ACC relay and an IG relay that switch not only the electrification of the first electrical load to but also the electrification of the second electrical load; and an electric power source management ECU, a parked state ACC relay and a parked state IG relay that switch the electrification of only the second electrical load. The vehicular electric power source controller curbs wasteful electricity consumption while operating an electrical load that is used while the vehicle is parked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshinori Esaka, Minoru Fukasawa, Hiroshi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 7923858
    Abstract: An electric power source system in which a momentary interruption of the electric power supply does not occur when the direction of voltage conversion is switched by a voltage conversion device that is capable of bidirectional voltage conversion. The electric power source system includes a bidirectional switching regulator that selectively switches between the voltage conversion in the step-up direction from a low-voltage system to a high-voltage system and the voltage conversion in the step-down direction from the high-voltage system to the low-voltage system, and a linear regulator, connected in parallel to the bidirectional switching regulator, that converts voltage in the step-down direction. The direction of current that flows via the bidirectional switching regulator switches from the step-up direction to the step-down direction after current flows in the step-down direction via the linear regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Ito, Toshinori Esaka, Hidenori Matsuto
  • Patent number: 7839116
    Abstract: In a power supply device of the invention, when the state of charge SOC1 of a low-voltage battery is lower than a discharging reference value Shi1 below a full charge level and when the state of charge SOC2 of a high-voltage battery is not lower than a discharging reference value Slow2 at a system-off time, the low-voltage battery is charged close to its full charge level with the electric power supplied from the high-voltage battery. The lead acid battery used for the low-voltage battery has the high potential for deterioration in the continuously low state of charge SOC. The lithium secondary battery used for the high-voltage battery has the high potential for deterioration in the continuously high state of charge SOC. The charge of the low-voltage battery in combination with the discharge of the high-voltage battery enables both the low-voltage battery and the high-voltage battery to have respective favorable states of charge with little potentials for deterioration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshinori Esaka, Nobuyuki Okabe, Osamu Komeda
  • Publication number: 20100231037
    Abstract: A vehicular electric power source controller that controls the electrification of an electrical load mounted in a vehicle includes: a first electrical load that are a portion of the electrical load mounted in the vehicle; a second electrical load that are electrified preferentially over first electrical loads when a vehicle is parked; an electric power source-switching ECU, an ACC relay and an IG relay that switch not only the electrification of the first electrical load to but also the electrification of the second electrical load; and an electric power source management ECU, a parked state ACC relay and a parked state IG relay that switch the electrification of only the second electrical load. The vehicular electric power source controller curbs wasteful electricity consumption while operating an electrical load that is used while the vehicle is parked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, THE FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshinori Esaka, Minoru Fukasawa, Hiroshi Tsutsumi
  • Publication number: 20090261796
    Abstract: An electric power source system in which a momentary interruption of the electric power supply does not occur when the direction of voltage conversion is switched by a voltage conversion device that is capable of bidirectional voltage conversion. The electric power source system includes a bidirectional switching regulator that selectively switches between the voltage conversion in the step-up direction from a low-voltage system to a high-voltage system and the voltage conversion in the step-down direction from the high-voltage system to the low-voltage system, and a linear regulator, connected in parallel to the bidirectional switching regulator, that converts voltage in the step-down direction. The direction of current that flows via the bidirectional switching regulator switches from the step-up direction to the step-down direction after current flows in the step-down direction via the linear regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Koji Ito, Toshinori Esaka, Hidenori Matsuto
  • Patent number: 7516726
    Abstract: A battery device of the invention has a high-voltage battery unit, which includes three battery modules C1 through C3, three voltage equalization circuits B1 through B3, and six switches SW1 through SW6. Each of the three battery modules C1 through C3 includes plural lithium secondary cells arranged in series. Each of the voltage equalization circuits B1 through B3 works to equalize the voltages of the respective cells included in a corresponding one of the battery modules C1 through C3. The six switches SW1 through SW6 are individually switched on and off to switch over the connection state of the battery modules C1 through C3 between serial connection and parallel connection. In the battery device of the invention, the voltage equalization process activates the voltage equalization circuits B1 through B3 to respectively equalize the voltages of the plural cells included in each of the three battery modules C1 through C3 in the state of serial connection of the battery modules C1 through C3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshinori Esaka, Nobuyuki Okabe, Osamu Komeda
  • Publication number: 20090015193
    Abstract: In a power supply device of the invention, when the state of charge SOC1 of a low-voltage battery is lower than a discharging reference value Shi1 below a full charge level and when the state of charge SOC2 of a high-voltage battery is not lower than a discharging reference value Slow2 at a system-off time, the low-voltage battery is charged close to its full charge level with the electric power supplied from the high-voltage battery. The lead acid battery used for the low-voltage battery has the high potential for deterioration in the continuously low state of charge SOC. The lithium secondary battery used for the high-voltage battery has the high potential for deterioration in the continuously high state of charge SOC. The charge of the low-voltage battery in combination with the discharge of the high-voltage battery enables both the low-voltage battery and the high-voltage battery to have respective favorable states of charge with little potentials for deterioration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshinori Esaka, Nobuyuki Okabe, Osamu Komeda
  • Publication number: 20080177444
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a power supply control device for an electric power steering device used for a power supply system comprises a main battery 40 connected to the electric power steering device via a first power supply line and a sub-battery 50 connected to the electric power steering device via a second power supply line, wherein when detecting the state of the sub-battery, said power supply control device restricts or disconnects power supply from the main battery to the electric power steering device while it permits power supply from the sub-battery to the electric power steering device, characterized in that said power supply control device prevents the detection of the state of the second battery if a vehicle speed is higher than a predetermined reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Tachibana, Koji Ito, Toshinori Esaka, Hidenori Matsuto
  • Publication number: 20080072859
    Abstract: In the battery device of the invention, the voltage equalization process activates the voltage equalization circuits (B1) through (B3) to respectively equalize the voltages of the plural cells included in each of the three battery modules (C1) through (C3) in the state of serial connection of the battery modules (C1) through (C3). After completion of the voltage equalization in each of the three battery modules (C1) through (C3), the voltage equalization process connects the three battery modules (C1) through (C3) in parallel and equalizes the voltages of the respective battery modules (C1) through (C3). This arrangement effectively reduces the power loss by the voltage equalization and thus enhances the total energy efficiency of the whole battery device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshinori Esaka, Nobuyuki Okabe, Osamu Komeda