Patents by Inventor Tsuyoshi Kanuma

Tsuyoshi Kanuma 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: 9725034
    Abstract: A method of emanating a sound from a vehicle comprising detecting an accelerator state, a brake state, and a transmission state of the vehicle, and emanating a take-off sound. The take-off sound includes changing emanation of a sound profile from a first sound pressure level to a second sound pressure level that is greater than the first sound pressure level, upon first detecting the accelerator state transitioned from an accelerator released state to an accelerator depressed state while the brake state indicates the brake released state and the transmission state indicates a motive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Heather Konet, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Manabu Sato, Toshiyuki Tabata, Andy Christensen
  • Patent number: 9725035
    Abstract: A method of emanating a sound from a vehicle comprising detecting a speed of the vehicle, and emanating a speed sound, including emanating a sound profile and changing at least one of a sound pressure level and a pitch of the sound profile in relation to the speed of the vehicle changing. The method further comprises ceasing emanation of the speed sound upon the speed of the vehicle increasing from below a first threshold to above the first threshold, and resuming emanation of the speed sound upon the speed of the vehicle decreasing from above a second threshold to below the second threshold, the second threshold being less than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Heather Konet, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Manabu Sato, Toshiyuki Tabata, Andy Christensen
  • Publication number: 20160023595
    Abstract: A method of emanating a sound from a vehicle comprising detecting an accelerator state, a brake state, and a transmission state of the vehicle, and emanating a take-off sound. The take-off sound includes changing emanation of a sound profile from a first sound pressure level to a second sound pressure level that is greater than the first sound pressure level, upon first detecting the accelerator state transitioned from an accelerator released state to an accelerator depressed state while the brake state indicates the brake released state and the transmission state indicates a motive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Heather Konet, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Manabu Sato, Toshiyuki Tabata, Andy Christensen
  • Publication number: 20160023596
    Abstract: A method of emanating a sound from a vehicle comprising detecting a speed of the vehicle, and emanating a speed sound, including emanating a sound profile and changing at least one of a sound pressure level and a pitch of the sound profile in relation to the speed of the vehicle changing. The method further comprises ceasing emanation of the speed sound upon the speed of the vehicle increasing from below a first threshold to above the first threshold, and resuming emanation of the speed sound upon the speed of the vehicle decreasing from above a second threshold to below the second threshold, the second threshold being less than the first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Heather Konet, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Manabu Sato, Toshiyuki Tabata, Andy Christensen
  • Patent number: 9180813
    Abstract: A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a first sound emitting device, a second sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The first sound emitting device emits a first intermittent notification sound inside a cabin interior of a vehicle. The second sound emitting device emits a second intermittent notification sound outside of the cabin interior of the vehicle. The notification sound control device operates the first and second sound emitting devices to separately emit the first and second intermittent notification sounds in at least a partially overlapping pattern in response to occurrence of a vehicle condition to convey a same type of vehicle information to both inside and outside of the cabin interior of the vehicle. The notification sound control device includes a cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section that is configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Saito, Katsumi Kimura, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Hideo Yoshino, Yuji Watanabe, Toshiyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9150153
    Abstract: A method of emanating a sound from a vehicle includes detecting a transmission state and a brake state of the vehicle and determining whether a vehicle movement state indicates intent to move the vehicle from a stationary state based on the transmission state and the brake state. The method further includes emanating the sound when the vehicle movement state indicates intent to move the vehicle, and refraining from emanating the sound when the vehicle is in the stationary state and the vehicle movement state fails to indicate intent to move the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Heather Konet, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Manabu Sato, Toshiyuki Tabata, Andy Christensen
  • Patent number: 8773253
    Abstract: A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device emits a movement notification sound to outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle is moving at a low speed. The notification sound control device operates the sound emitting device to selectively emit the movement notification sound. The notification sound control device includes a notification sound prohibiting section and a prohibition cancelling section. The notification sound prohibiting section prohibits an emission of the movement notification sound by the sound emitting device. The prohibition cancelling section cancels a notification sound emission prohibition imposed by the notification sound prohibiting section either upon a vehicle speed of the vehicle exceeding a prescribed vehicle speed or based on position information of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshino, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Yoshiro Tateishi, Hironori Saito, Katsumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8730020
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle to emanate an audible alert. The method includes determining when the vehicle is operating, and controlling a speaker system in the vehicle to emanate the audible alert outside of the vehicle for a period of time when the vehicle is operating. The audible alert has a sound profile that includes a simultaneous emanation of a first audible frequency component at a first sound pressure level and a second audible frequency component at a second sound pressure level, with the first and second sound pressure levels being greater than a sound pressure level of the sound profile at all other frequencies. The method further includes modulating the first sound pressure level of the first audible frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Heather Konet, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Manabu Sato, Toshiyuki Tabata
  • Patent number: 8730027
    Abstract: A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device emits a starting movement notification sound to outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an outside area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle will transition from a stopped state to a moving state, and emits a moving notification sound to outside of the vehicle to inform a person in the outside area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle is moving. The notification sound control device operates the sound emitting device to selectively emit the starting movement notification sound. The notification sound control device includes a notification sound emission timing section that sets a start timing of the starting movement notification sound in response to a shift operation having been performed and an additional start movement preparation operation of the vehicle having been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Saito, Katsumi Kimura, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Hideo Yoshino, Yuji Watanabe, Toshiyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8669858
    Abstract: A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device is configured to emit a movement notification sound to an outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle will move. The notification sound control device is configured to operate the sound emitting device in response to occurrence of a vehicle condition. The notification sound control device setting the movement notification sound of the sound emitting device to a frequency in a range of 1.5 kHz to 6 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshino, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Hironori Saito, Katsumi Kimura, Yuji Watanabe, Toshiyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8665081
    Abstract: A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device emits forward and reverse advancement notification sounds outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle will move. The notification sound control device operates the sound emitting device to selectively emit the forward and reverse movement notifications. The notification sound control device includes forward and reverse advancement notification sound emission timing sections. A start timing of the forward advancement notification sound is set in response to both a forward movement shift operation having been performed and an additional start movement preparation operation of the vehicle having been performed. A start timing of the reverse movement notification sound is set to be emitted immediately in response to the reverse movement shift operation having been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshino, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Hironori Saito, Katsumi Kimura, Yuji Watanabe, Toshiyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8599006
    Abstract: A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device is configured to emit a movement notification sound to outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle will move. The notification sound control device is configured to operate the sound emitting device to emit a movement notification during a period from when a vehicle speed becomes equal to or smaller than a prescribed value until a prescribed amount of time has elapsed in a situation where the vehicle speed becomes equal to or smaller than the prescribed value while the forward movement notification sound is being emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Saito, Katsumi Kimura, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Hideo Yoshino, Yuji Watanabe, Toshiyuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20130214920
    Abstract: A method of emanating a sound from a vehicle includes detecting a transmission state and a brake state of the vehicle and determining whether a vehicle movement state indicates intent to move the vehicle from a stationary state based on the transmission state and the brake state. The method further includes emanating the sound when the vehicle movement state indicates intent to move the vehicle, and refraining from emanating the sound when the vehicle is in the stationary state and the vehicle movement state fails to indicate intent to move the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Heather Konet, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Manabu Sato, Toshiyuki Tabata, Andy Christensen
  • Publication number: 20130009769
    Abstract: A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device is configured to emit a movement notification sound to outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle will move. The notification sound control device is configured to operate the sound emitting device to emit a movement notification during a period from when a vehicle speed becomes equal to or smaller than a prescribed value until a prescribed amount of time has elapsed in a situation where the vehicle speed becomes equal to or smaller than the prescribed value while the forward movement notification sound is being emitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Saito, Katsumi Kimura, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Hideo Yoshino, Yuji Watanabe, Toshiyuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120299718
    Abstract: A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device emits a movement notification sound to outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle is moving at a low speed. The notification sound control device operates the sound emitting device to selectively emit the movement notification sound. The notification sound control device includes a notification sound prohibiting section and a prohibition cancelling section. The notification sound prohibiting section prohibits an emission of the movement notification sound by the sound emitting device. The prohibition cancelling section cancels a notification sound emission prohibition imposed by the notification sound prohibiting section either upon a vehicle speed of the vehicle exceeding a prescribed vehicle speed or based on position information of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshino, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Yoshiro Tateishi, Hironori Saito, Katsumi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20120299716
    Abstract: A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device emits forward and reverse advancement notification sounds outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle will move. The notification sound control device operates the sound emitting device to selectively emit the forward and reverse movement notifications. The notification sound control device includes forward and reverse advancement notification sound emission timing sections. A start timing of the forward advancement notification sound is set in response to both a forward movement shift operation having been performed and an additional start movement preparation operation of the vehicle having been performed. A start timing of the reverse movement notification sound is set to be emitted immediately in response to the reverse movement shift operation having been performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshino, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Hironori Saito, Katsumi Kimura, Yuji Watanabe, Toshiyuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120299717
    Abstract: A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device is configured to emit a movement notification sound to an outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle will move. The notification sound control device is configured to operate the sound emitting device in response to occurrence of a vehicle condition. The notification sound control device setting the movement notification sound of the sound emitting device to a frequency in a range of 1.5 kHz to 6 kHz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Yoshino, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Hironori Saito, Katsumi Kimura, Yuji Watanabe, Toshiyuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120293318
    Abstract: A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The sound emitting device emits a starting movement notification sound to outside of a vehicle to inform a person in an outside area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle will transition from a stopped state to a moving state, and emits a moving notification sound to outside of the vehicle to inform a person in the outside area surrounding the vehicle that the vehicle is moving. The notification sound control device operates the sound emitting device to selectively emit the starting movement notification sound. The notification sound control device includes a notification sound emission timing section that sets a start timing of the starting movement notification sound in response to a shift operation having been performed and an additional start movement preparation operation of the vehicle having been performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Saito, Katsumi Kimura, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Hideo Yoshino, Yuji Watanabe, Toshiyuki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120296520
    Abstract: A vehicle notification sound emitting apparatus is basically provided with a first sound emitting device, a second sound emitting device and a notification sound control device. The first sound emitting device emits a first intermittent notification sound inside a cabin interior of a vehicle. The second sound emitting device emits a second intermittent notification sound outside of the cabin interior of the vehicle. The notification sound control device operates the first and second sound emitting devices to separately emit the first and second intermittent notification sounds in at least a partially overlapping pattern in response to occurrence of a vehicle condition to convey a same type of vehicle information to both inside and outside of the cabin interior of the vehicle. The notification sound control device includes a cabin interior-exterior notification sound synchronizing section that is configured to synchronize the first and second intermittent notification sounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Saito, Katsumi Kimura, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Hideo Yoshino, Yuji Watanabe, Toshiyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8299904
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle to emanate an audible alert including determining when the vehicle is operating, and controlling a speaker system in the vehicle to emanate the audible alert outside of the vehicle when the vehicle is operating based on stored information representative of an internal combustion engine (ICE) noise profile. The audible alert has a sound profile including a simultaneous emanation of first, second and third audible frequency components having first, second and third frequencies, respectively, with the first and second frequencies emanating at first and second sound pressure levels greater than first and second representative sound pressure levels of the ICE noise profile at the first and second frequencies, respectively, and the third frequency emanating at a third sound pressure level less than a third representative sound pressure level of the ICE noise profile at the third frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Heather Konet, Tsuyoshi Kanuma, Manabu Sato, Toshiyuki Tabata