Patents by Inventor Tsuyoshi Kontani

Tsuyoshi Kontani 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: 11752959
    Abstract: An on-board control apparatus includes: a controller connected to a controlled device mounted in a vehicle via a signal line and configured to control the operation of the corresponding controlled device; and a power source box connected to a power source mounted in the vehicle via a power line, that is connected to the controlled device mounted in the vehicle via a power line, and configured to switch between supply and non-supply of power from the power source to the controlled device, wherein the power source box includes; a switch disposed in a power supply path from the power source to the controlled device; a reception unit configured to receive an input of the switching command; and a switching control unit configured to switch between conduction and interruption of the switch in response to the switching command received by the reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Mizutani, Tsuyoshi Kontani
  • Publication number: 20230010094
    Abstract: An in-vehicle system installed in a vehicle including a plurality of relay devices, wherein the plurality of relay devices are installed in a plurality of installation areas partitioned in the vehicle and include a plurality of connectors corresponding in number to the plurality of installation areas, the number and shapes of the plurality of connectors are standardized between the plurality of relay devices, harnesses extended from the plurality of installation areas are connected to the plurality of connectors either directly or via relay connectors, the plurality of relay devices include: a first relay device in which harnesses extended from different installation areas are connected to the plurality of connectors; and a second relay device other than the first relay device, and the number of relay connectors connected to the first relay device is no greater than the number of relay connectors connected to the second relay device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi KONTANI, Shinichi TANABE
  • Patent number: 11405322
    Abstract: Provided are an in-vehicle communication apparatus, a communication program, and a message transmission method. The in-vehicle communication apparatus according is connected to another apparatus via a plurality of communication lines, and includes a plurality of communication units that are provided respectively for the communication lines, and transmit/receive a message via the communication lines, a classification processing unit that performs processing for classifying messages that are to be transmitted to the other apparatus, into a plurality of groups in accordance with priorities of the messages and a message transmission processing unit that distributes messages classified into each of the plurality of groups, to one or more communication units allocated to the group, and the number of communication units allocated to a group into which a higher-priority message is classified is larger than the number of communication units allocated to a group into which a lower-priority message is classified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kontani, Katsuya Ikuta, Yuki Sano
  • Publication number: 20220094161
    Abstract: An on-board control apparatus includes: a controller connected to a controlled device mounted in a vehicle via a signal line and configured to control the operation of the corresponding controlled device; and a power source box connected to a power source mounted in the vehicle via a power line, that is connected to the controlled device mounted in the vehicle via a power line, and configured to switch between supply and non-supply of power from the power source to the controlled device, wherein the power source box includes; a switch disposed in a power supply path from the power source to the controlled device; a reception unit configured to receive an input of the switching command; and a switching control unit configured to switch between conduction and interruption of the switch in response to the switching command received by the reception unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Tomohiro Mizutani, Tsuyoshi Kontani
  • Patent number: 11239693
    Abstract: An on-board control apparatus includes: a controller connected to a controlled device mounted in a vehicle via a signal line and configured to control the operation of the corresponding controlled device; and a power source box connected to a power source mounted in the vehicle via a power line, that is connected to the controlled device mounted in the vehicle via a power line, and configured to switch between supply and non-supply of power from the power source to the controlled device, wherein the power source box includes; a switch disposed in a power supply path from the power source to the controlled device; a reception unit configured to receive an input of the switching command; and a switching control unit configured to switch between conduction and interruption of the switch in response to the switching command received by the reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Mizutani, Tsuyoshi Kontani
  • Publication number: 20210273887
    Abstract: Provided are an in-vehicle communication apparatus, a communication program, and a message transmission method. The in-vehicle communication apparatus according is connected to another apparatus via a plurality of communication lines, and includes a plurality of communication units that are provided respectively for the communication lines, and transmit/receive a message via the communication lines, a classification processing unit that performs processing for classifying messages that are to be transmitted to the other apparatus, into a plurality of groups in accordance with priorities of the messages and a message transmission processing unit that distributes messages classified into each of the plurality of groups, to one or more communication units allocated to the group, and the number of communication units allocated to a group into which a higher-priority message is classified is larger than the number of communication units allocated to a group into which a lower-priority message is classified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kontani, Katsuya Ikuta, Yuki Sano
  • Publication number: 20210250319
    Abstract: An in-vehicle communication apparatus includes a classification processing unit that classifies messages to be transmitted to another apparatus, into a plurality of groups and a message transmission unit that selects a group in a predetermined order, and transmits a message classified into the selected group, to the other apparatus. A configuration may be adopted in which the in-vehicle communication apparatus is connected to the other apparatus via a plurality of communication lines, and the message transmission unit selects a group in a predetermined order and transmits a message, for each of the communication lines. A configuration may also be adopted wherein the classification processing unit classifies messages to be transmitted to the other apparatus, into a first group and second group, and the message transmission unit alternately transmits a message classified into the first group and a message classified into the second group, to the other apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventors: Yuki Sano, Katsuya Ikuta, Tsuyoshi Kontani
  • Patent number: 11075539
    Abstract: An alternator control device includes a battery state determination unit determining whether the state of a battery is a predetermined normal state, a vehicle speed determination unit determining whether the speed of a vehicle is within a predetermined low speed range, a position determination unit determining whether the position of the vehicle meets a predetermined positional condition, and an output voltage instruction unit gives an instruction relating to the output voltage of the alternator. The output voltage instruction unit gives an instruction to increase the output voltage of the alternator to a voltage that is greater than a reference voltage, if it is determined that the state of the battery is not the predetermined normal state, if it is determined that the speed of the vehicle is within the predetermined low speed range, and if it is determined that the position of the vehicle meets the positional condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kontani
  • Publication number: 20210119819
    Abstract: An in-vehicle communication system comprises a plurality of in-vehicle relay devices, each including a plurality of first connection units, an in-vehicle communication device connected to each one of the first connection units, a plurality of second connection units to which another one of the in-vehicle relay devices is connected, and a relay processing unit that relays messages between the in-vehicle communication devices connected to the first connection units and the in-vehicle relay devices connected to the second connection units, wherein two of the in-vehicle relay devices are connected to one another via two or more communication lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Yuki Sano, Katsuya Ikuta, Tsuyoshi Kontani
  • Patent number: 10661732
    Abstract: An in-vehicle relay device includes: a first determination unit that determines whether or not first data is included in a received communication signal; a non-volatile storage unit that sequentially stores the first data that has been determined by the first determination unit as being included; a second determination unit that determines whether or not second data is included in the received communication signal; and a prohibition unit that, when the second determination unit has determined that the second data is included, prohibits the storage to be performed by the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kontani
  • Patent number: 10654430
    Abstract: An automotive power supply device includes first and second batteries, first and second load groups, a plurality of fuses interposed between the first and second batteries and the first and second load groups, and instantaneous interruption prevention devices. First and second redundant system loads that complement operation of each other are allocated to the first and second load groups. The instantaneous interruption prevention devices are connected to the first and second load groups, and prevent an instantaneous interruption of electric power supplied to at least any of the first and second load groups when one or more fuses are blown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kontani
  • Publication number: 20200099253
    Abstract: An on-board control apparatus includes: a controller connected to a controlled device mounted in a vehicle via a signal line and configured to control the operation of the corresponding controlled device; and a power source box connected to a power source mounted in the vehicle via a power line, that is connected to the controlled device mounted in the vehicle via a power line, and configured to switch between supply and non-supply of power from the power source to the controlled device, wherein the power source box includes; a switch disposed in a power supply path from the power source to the controlled device; a reception unit configured to receive an input of the switching command; and a switching control unit configured to switch between conduction and interruption of the switch in response to the switching command received by the reception unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Tomohiro Mizutani, Tsuyoshi Kontani
  • Patent number: 10523273
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted communication system that includes a plurality of electronic control units to which power is supplied from a positive and negative power supply trunk line installed in a vehicle, wherein: each of the electronic control units includes a first communication unit that performs power line communication via the power supply trunk line; and the electronic control units exchange communication signals with each other using the first communication units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Mizutani, Tsuyoshi Kontani
  • Publication number: 20190386702
    Abstract: A vehicle-mounted communication system that includes a plurality of electronic control units to which power is supplied from a positive and negative power supply trunk line installed in a vehicle, wherein: each of the electronic control units includes a first communication unit that performs power line communication via the power supply trunk line; and the electronic control units exchange communication signals with each other using the first communication units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicants: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro MIZUTANI, Tsuyoshi KONTANI
  • Publication number: 20190379236
    Abstract: An alternator control device includes a battery state determination unit determining whether the state of a battery is a predetermined normal state, a vehicle speed determination unit determining whether the speed of a vehicle is within a predetermined low speed range, a position determination unit determining whether the position of the vehicle meets a predetermined positional condition, and an output voltage instruction unit gives an instruction relating to the output voltage of the alternator. The output voltage instruction unit gives an instruction to increase the output voltage of the alternator to a voltage that is greater than a reference voltage, if it is determined that the state of the battery is not the predetermined normal state, if it is determined that the speed of the vehicle is within the predetermined low speed range, and if it is determined that the position of the vehicle meets the positional condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kontani
  • Publication number: 20190283692
    Abstract: An in-vehicle relay device includes: a first determination unit that determines whether or not first data is included in a received communication signal; a non-volatile storage unit that sequentially stores the first data that has been determined by the first determination unit as being included; a second determination unit that determines whether or not second data is included in the received communication signal; and a prohibition unit that, when the second determination unit has determined that the second data is included, prohibits the storage to be performed by the storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicants: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kontani
  • Publication number: 20180373522
    Abstract: Provided are an in-vehicle updating device, an updating system and an update processing program that are able to efficiently perform update processing of an in-vehicle communication device connected to a plurality of communication lines. Update processing of an ECU connected to communication lines is performed, by a gateway transmitting repro data for use in updating to the ECU. A repro tool stores divided data of the repro data, and transmits the divided data to the gateway. The repro tool attaches, to the plurality of divided data, sequential order information for use in restoring the divided data, and transmits the resultant data to the gateway. The gateway determines a communication state of each communication line, appropriately distributes the plurality of divided data to the plurality of communication lines, according to the determined communication states, and transmits the plurality of divided data to the ECU via the plurality of communication lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kontani, Shinya Itou
  • Publication number: 20180001850
    Abstract: An automotive power supply device includes first and second batteries, first and second load groups, a plurality of fuses interposed between the first and second batteries and the first and second load groups, and instantaneous interruption prevention devices. First and second redundant system loads that complement operation of each other are allocated to the first and second load groups. The instantaneous interruption prevention devices are connected to the first and second load groups, and prevent an instantaneous interruption of electric power supplied to at least any of the first and second load groups when one or more fuses are blown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicants: AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kontani