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: 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
  • Patent number: 11505194
    Abstract: A system trigger mode and a driver trigger mode are provided. In the system trigger mode, when a start condition for an automated lane change function of performing a lane change of a vehicle by autonomous travel control is satisfied, lane change information as to whether or not to accept execution of the automated lane change function is presented, and when an acceptance input of accepting the execution of the automated lane change function is detected in response to presentation of the lane change information, the automated lane change function is executed. In the driver trigger mode, the automated lane change function is executed when a lane change instruction operation different from the acceptance input is performed. When the lane change instruction operation is performed after the presentation of the lane change information, the automated lane change function by the driver trigger mode is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11447136
    Abstract: A travel control method for a vehicle includes: presenting a vehicle traveling on a route to a preliminarily set destination with overtaking information as to whether to accept execution of an overtaking assist function for overtaking a preceding vehicle by changing lanes through autonomous travel control; and executing the overtaking assist function when an acceptance input of accepting the execution of the overtaking assist function is detected in response to presentation of the overtaking information. This method further includes: detecting a position of the vehicle on the route; and detecting whether or not there is a traveling direction change point on the route ahead of the position of the vehicle, a point at which the vehicle must change its traveling direction. When the distance from the vehicle to the traveling direction change point is shorter than a preliminarily set distance, the presentation of the overtaking information is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11440549
    Abstract: An automated lane change control detects a preceding vehicle that is traveling in a same travel lane as a host vehicle, determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle, and executes an automated lane change in the host vehicle after a first predetermined time has elapsed from determining that the predetermined condition is satisfied. The automated lane change of the host vehicle is executed after a first predetermined time has elapsed after determining that the predetermined condition has been satisfied. A second predetermined time is set that is longer than the first predetermined time as a time for prohibiting the automated lane change upon assessing the presents of a previous driver lane change. The automated lane change is prohibited in an interval that starts when a prohibiting condition is satisfied and ends when the second predetermined time elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Shuko Ishimaru, Tatsuya Shino, Atsushi Ito
  • Publication number: 20220234497
    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: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Yuji NAGASAWA, Yohei TANIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20220219692
    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: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20220204054
    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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20220203993
    Abstract: A system trigger mode and a driver trigger mode are provided. In the system trigger mode, when a start condition for an automated lane change function of performing a lane change of a vehicle by autonomous travel control is satisfied, lane change information as to whether or not to accept execution of the automated lane change function is presented, and when an acceptance input of accepting the execution of the automated lane change function is detected in response to presentation of the lane change information, the automated lane change function is executed. In the driver trigger mode, the automated lane change function is executed when a lane change instruction operation different from the acceptance input is performed. When the lane change instruction operation is performed after the presentation of the lane change information, the automated lane change function by the driver trigger mode is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20220203992
    Abstract: A travel control method for a vehicle includes: presenting a vehicle traveling on a route to a preliminarily set destination with overtaking information as to whether to accept execution of an overtaking assist function for overtaking a preceding vehicle by changing lanes through autonomous travel control; and executing the overtaking assist function when an acceptance input of accepting the execution of the overtaking assist function is detected in response to presentation of the overtaking information. This method further includes: detecting a position of the vehicle on the route; and detecting whether or not there is a traveling direction change point on the route ahead of the position of the vehicle, a point at which the vehicle must change its traveling direction. When the distance from the vehicle to the traveling direction change point is shorter than a preliminarily set distance, the presentation of the overtaking information is not performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventor: Yohei Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20210370946
    Abstract: An automated lane change control detects a preceding vehicle that is traveling in a same travel lane as a host vehicle, determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle, and executes an automated lane change in the host vehicle after a first predetermined time has elapsed from determining that the predetermined condition is satisfied. The automated lane change of the host vehicle is executed after a first predetermined time has elapsed after determining that the predetermined condition has been satisfied. A second predetermined time is set that is longer than the first predetermined time as a time for prohibiting the automated lane change upon assessing the presents of a previous driver lane change. The automated lane change is prohibited in an interval that starts when a prohibiting condition is satisfied and ends when the second predetermined time elapses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Yohei TANIGUCHI, Shuko ISHIMARU, Tatsuya SHINO, Atsushi ITO
  • Patent number: 11124180
    Abstract: A parking control apparatus includes an input device configured to acquire an operation command acquired from inside or outside of a vehicle and a control device configured to control the vehicle in accordance with the operation command. The control device is configured to determine a communication environment around the vehicle and control the vehicle to park in accordance with a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Yasuhisa Hayakawa, Yohei Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11046307
    Abstract: A parking control apparatus includes an input device configured to acquire an operation command acquired from inside or outside of a vehicle and a control device configured to control the vehicle in accordance with the operation command. The control device is configured to make a determination whether or not an occupant is present inside a vehicle interior of the vehicle and control the vehicle to park in accordance with a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Yasuhisa Hayakawa, Yohei Taniguchi
  • Publication number: 20210155242
    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: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventor: Yohei TANIGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20210155243
    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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventor: Yohei TANIGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10926693
    Abstract: A direction indicator is configured to start blinking in response to an operation of a driver of a subject vehicle and automatically turn off after a first blinking time elapses. When the subject vehicle changes lanes in an automated or autonomous manner due to the operation of the driver, a control apparatus is used to extend the first blinking time to a second blinking time longer than the first blinking time and control the direction indicator to automatically turn off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Tatsuya Shino, Shuko Ishimaru, Atsushi Ito
  • Patent number: 10755117
    Abstract: A method of determining obstacles determines if a detected object detected outside a subject vehicle is an obstacle for the subject vehicle on the basis of a predetermined determination criterion. In this method, a determination is made whether or not the detected object detected outside the subject vehicle is a driver or passenger of the subject vehicle. When the detected object is not the driver or passenger, a determination is made whether or not the detected object is an obstacle for the subject vehicle on the basis of a first determination criterion. When the detected object is the driver or passenger, a determination is made whether or not the detected object is an obstacle for the subject vehicle on the basis of a second determination criterion with which the detected object is less likely to be determined as an obstacle for the subject vehicle than with the first determination criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Yasuhisa Hayakawa, Yohei Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 10676082
    Abstract: A parking assistance method including: setting a target parking position of a vehicle on the basis of a circumferential situation of the vehicle detected by a circumferential situation detection sensor; determining a communication situation between an operation device configured to receive an operation by an operator outside the vehicle and transmit an instruction signal corresponding to the operation and a communication device mounted on the vehicle and configured to receive the instruction signal; limiting the operation for manually adjusting the target parking position in the operation device depending on the communication situation; transmitting, when the target parking position is adjusted, the instruction signal for moving the target parking position to the communication device; and parking the vehicle by the automatic driving in the target parking position moved depending on the instruction signal received at the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohei Taniguchi, Yasuhisa Hayakawa, Yasuhiro Suzuki, Ichiro Yamaguchi