Patents by Inventor YOHEI TANIGUCHI

YOHEI TANIGUCHI 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: 12377775
    Abstract: An autonomous travel controller detects whether a host vehicle is carrying out a first course change for changing a course in a direction indicated by a turn indicator. Upon detecting that the host vehicle is carrying out the first course change, detecting whether there is a road that enables a second course change for changing the course of the host vehicle that branches from the road after the first course change. When a road that enables the second course change is detected, the autonomous travel controller turns the turn indicator off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Nagasawa, Yohei Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 12377850
    Abstract: A driving assistance method uses a controller to perform automated lane change to control the own vehicle in such a way that the own vehicle makes a lane change under a condition that the passenger is at least in contact with the steering wheel, the driving assistance method causing the controller to perform processing including: selecting a target lane; and when automated lane change from a current lane to the target lane includes a first automated lane change from a first lane to a second lane and a second automated lane change from the second lane to a third lane, performing lane-keeping assistance under a condition that the passenger is at least in contact with the steering wheel from an end of control of the first automated lane change until a start of control of the second automated lane change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Yuta Akamatsu, Takashi Fukuda, Hirotaka Kamimura
  • Patent number: 12319282
    Abstract: A vehicle travel assistance method and a travel assistance device for a vehicle include determining whether or not a route-following lane change that is a lane change for traveling along a set travel route can be assisted with autonomous lane change control, and when determining that the route-following lane change cannot be assisted with the autonomous lane change control, notifying a driver that a lane change with the autonomous lane change control cannot be made, and prohibiting the autonomous lane change control from assisting a lane change in a direction opposite to a direction in which the vehicle moves during the route-following lane change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Shohei Nakamura, Yuji Nagasawa, Hirotaka Kamimura
  • Patent number: 12319291
    Abstract: A driving assistance method for performing a lane change of an own vehicle by an automated lane change function causes a controller to perform processing including: when a vehicle permitted to travel in, of a first lane and a second lane, the first lane is limited, the first lane and the second lane being a plurality of lanes on a road on which the own vehicle travels, the plurality of lanes being adjacent to each other and having a same travel direction, determining whether or not the own vehicle is traveling in the first lane in which a vehicle permitted to travel in the first lane is limited; and when determining that the own vehicle is traveling in the first lane, not performing a lane change from the first lane to the second lane by the automated lane change function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Shohei Nakamura, Kazuyuki Uwabo, Yuji Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20250171022
    Abstract: A driving assistance method causes a controller to perform processing of making a proposal of a lane change to a passenger when an index value based on relative speed of a preceding vehicle with respect to an own vehicle is less than a threshold value and canceling the proposal of the lane change when a lane change execution condition is not satisfied. The controller performs processing including: accepting setting of the threshold value; and not presenting a lane change proposal after the proposal of the lane change is canceled depending on the travel environment until a set time elapses from a time point when the proposal of the lane change is canceled, even when the index value is less than the threshold value, and the set time is set to a longer time when the threshold value is high than when the threshold value is low.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Shohei Nakamura, Yuji Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20250146836
    Abstract: A lane recognition method and a lane recognition device operate such that when a travel lane of a vehicle is recognized by performing cross-check between first boundary information about a boundary dividing lanes acquired from map information and second boundary information about the boundary dividing the lanes acquired from a detection device of the vehicle, a movable center line is detected from at least one of the first boundary information and the second boundary information. The movable center line is a center line that can move in a width direction of a road on which the vehicle travels. When the movable center line is detected, the cross-check between the first boundary information and the second boundary information is not performed on one of a right side and a left side of the vehicle on which the movable center line is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Takahiro Nojiri, Katsuhiko Degawa, Yohei Taniguchi, Kazuyuki Uwabo, Yuji Nagasawa, Hirotaka Kamimura
  • Patent number: 12292305
    Abstract: A lane recognition method and a lane recognition device operate such that when a travel lane of a vehicle is recognized by performing cross-check between first boundary information about a boundary dividing lanes acquired from map information and second boundary information about the boundary dividing the lanes acquired from a detection device of the vehicle, a movable center line is detected from at least one of the first boundary information and the second boundary information. The movable center line is a center line that can move in a width direction of a road on which the vehicle travels. When the movable center line is detected, the cross-check between the first boundary information and the second boundary information is not performed on one of a right side and a left side of the vehicle on which the movable center line is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Nojiri, Katsuhiko Degawa, Yohei Taniguchi, Kazuyuki Uwabo, Yuji Nagasawa, Hirotaka Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20250115245
    Abstract: A driving assistance method uses a controller to perform automated lane change to control the own vehicle in such a way that the own vehicle makes a lane change under a condition that the passenger is at least in contact with the steering wheel, the driving assistance method causing the controller to perform processing including: selecting a target lane; and when automated lane change from a current lane to the target lane includes a first automated lane change from a first lane to a second lane and a second automated lane change from the second lane to a third lane, performing lane-keeping assistance under a condition that the passenger is at least in contact with the steering wheel from an end of control of the first automated lane change until a start of control of the second automated lane change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Yuta Akamatsu, Takashi Fukuda, Hirotaka Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20250115244
    Abstract: A driving assistance method for proposing and making a lane change by autonomous travel control, based on an approval action taken by a passenger, causes a controller to: when detecting a preceding vehicle traveling at a speed lower than a vehicle speed of an own vehicle, a first distance being the distance between another vehicle in a first adjacent lane and the own vehicle, is determined to be greater than or equal to a first threshold value, start to propose a lane change to the first adjacent lane; when the first distance is greater than or equal to a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value, continue proposing a lane change to the first adjacent lane; and when while proposing a lane change to the first adjacent lane, an approval action is taken by the passenger, cause a turn signal on a first adjacent lane side to operate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Shohei Nakamura, Yuji Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 12263842
    Abstract: A travel assistance method and device, when performing a first lane change with autonomous lane change control and then performing a second lane change for traveling along a set travel route, determines whether or not a distance from a position at which the first lane change has concluded to a position at which the second lane change can be started is a predetermined distance or less. When it is determined that the distance is the predetermined distance or less, whether assistance with the autonomous lane change control is enabled for the second lane change is determined. When assistance with the autonomous lane change control is enabled, whether a lane change can be made from a subject vehicle lane to an adjacent lane is determined. When the lane change to the adjacent lane can be made, the second lane change is made with the autonomous lane change control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Yuji Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20250100556
    Abstract: A driving assistance method for performing a lane change of an own vehicle by an automated lane change function causes a controller to perform processing including: when a vehicle permitted to travel in, of a first lane and a second lane, the first lane is limited, the first lane and the second lane being a plurality of lanes on a road on which the own vehicle travels, the plurality of lanes being adjacent to each other and having a same travel direction, determining whether or not the own vehicle is traveling in the first lane in which a vehicle permitted to travel in the first lane is limited; and when determining that the own vehicle is traveling in the first lane, not performing a lane change from the first lane to the second lane by the automated lane change function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Shohei Nakamura, Kazuyuki Uwabo, Yuji Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20240416916
    Abstract: A travel assistance method and device, when performing a first lane change with autonomous lane change control and then performing a second lane change for traveling along a set travel route, determines whether or not a distance from a position at which the first lane change has concluded to a position at which the second lane change can be started is a predetermined distance or less. When it is determined that the distance is the predetermined distance or less, whether assistance with the autonomous lane change control is enabled for the second lane change is determined. When assistance with the autonomous lane change control is enabled, whether a lane change can be made from a subject vehicle lane to an adjacent lane is determined. When the lane change to the adjacent lane can be made, the second lane change is made with the autonomous lane change control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Yuji Nagasawa
  • Publication number: 20240416908
    Abstract: A vehicle travel assistance method and a travel assistance device for a vehicle include determining whether or not a route-following lane change that is a lane change for traveling along a set travel route can be assisted with autonomous lane change control, and when determining that the route-following lane change cannot be assisted with the autonomous lane change control, notifying a driver that a lane change with the autonomous lane change control cannot be made, and prohibiting the autonomous lane change control from assisting a lane change in a direction opposite to a direction in which the vehicle moves during the route-following lane change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Shoehei Nakamura, Yuji Nagasawa, Hirotaka Kamimura
  • Patent number: 12145584
    Abstract: A driving assistance method for performing a lane change of an own vehicle by autonomous travel control includes: calculating a target route along which the own vehicle is caused to travel to a destination; determining whether or not multiple lane changes are required to be performed successively for the own vehicle to travel in accordance with the target route; determining whether or not the lane change is performed by the autonomous travel control; and when a determination that, in a second or later lane changes among the multiple lane changes, a lane change is not performed by the autonomous travel control is included, not performing a first lane change by the autonomous travel control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20240263955
    Abstract: An image control method includes: generating a road image representing an own lane and other lanes; and generating lane change images by, in a case where the own vehicle is caused to perform a lane change by autonomous travel control, when a target lane determined as a destination lane of a lane change is one of the displayed other lanes, superimposing a first course display representing a course in which a lane change to the target lane included in the displayed other lanes is performed on the road image and, when the target lane is none of the displayed other lanes, superimposing a second course display representing a course in which a lane change from the own lane to one of the displayed other lanes is performed and a lane change to an outer side of the displayed other lanes is further performed on the road image is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2021
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Shohei Nakamura, Yohei Taniguchi, Masashi Horibe, Kenji Maeda, Midori Isobe
  • Publication number: 20240262351
    Abstract: A driving assistance method for performing a lane change of an own vehicle by autonomous travel control includes: calculating a target route along which the own vehicle is caused to travel to a destination; determining whether or not multiple lane changes are required to be performed successively for the own vehicle to travel in accordance with the target route; determining whether or not the lane change is performed by the autonomous travel control; and when a determination that, in a second or later lane changes among the multiple lane changes, a lane change is not performed by the autonomous travel control is included, not performing a first lane change by the autonomous travel control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11926320
    Abstract: An autonomous speed control function for autonomously controlling a traveling speed of the vehicle and an autonomous steering control function for autonomously controlling steering of the vehicle include executing first autonomous control where, when an external situation of the vehicle is recognizable from a captured image by a camera on the vehicle, the vehicle is autonomously controlled using information recognized from the captured image; executing second autonomous control in which information indicating the external situation of the vehicle is acquired from stored map information provided in the vehicle and the vehicle is autonomously controlled using the acquired information; specifying an unrecognizable area in which the external situation of the vehicle is unrecognizable from the captured image; and when the unrecognizable area is present on a travel route of the vehicle, switching from the first autonomous control to the second autonomous control before the vehicle enters the unrecognizable area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11661062
    Abstract: A driving assist method executes a lane change assist based on a generated target travel route. Upon determining the host vehicle is traveling in a road having several lanes, an determination is made as to whether or not the host vehicle is traveling in a first area where an autonomous lane change can be executed. Next, upon determining that the host vehicle is traveling in the first area, an determination is made as to whether or not the host vehicle is traveling in a predetermined range from an area border, which is a boundary between the first area and a second area where the autonomous lane change cannot be executed. Upon determining the host vehicle is traveling in a predetermined range from the area border, a control for the autonomous lane change is performed so that the host vehicle travels in a traveling lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11548508
    Abstract: A driving assist method is performed by a controller that performs a lane change assist based on a generated target route. A determination is made as to whether or not the lane change has been executed. Next, it determines whether or not the lane change is in a direction toward a preset location due to a driver's operation when the lane change has been executed. Then, a determination is made as to whether or not a position index value from the host vehicle to the preset location is equal to or less than a first threshold value when the lane change is in a direction toward the preset location due to the driver's operation. The lane change assist in a direction away from the preset location is restricted when the position index value is equal to or less than the first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11518414
    Abstract: In a system trigger mode and a driver trigger mode, when a start condition for an automated lane change function by autonomous travel control is satisfied, lane change information as to whether to accept execution of the automated lane change function is presented; when an acceptance input of accepting the execution is detected, a determination is made as to whether the lane change is possible; and the automated lane change function is executed when it is determined possible. In the driver trigger mode, when a predetermined lane change instruction operation is performed, a determination is made as to whether the lane change is possible, and when a determination is made that lane change is possible, the automated lane change function is executed. The time for the lane change determination by the driver trigger mode is set shorter than the time for the lane change determination by the system trigger mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi