Patents by Inventor Youichirou Suzuki

Youichirou Suzuki 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).

  • Publication number: 20230117249
    Abstract: A distance estimation device includes a mobile terminal transmitting a radio wave and an in-vehicle device. The in-vehicle device includes a direction determination unit having a receiver, a distance measurement unit, and a correction unit. The receiver receives the radio wave and is arranged on a side of the vehicle. The direction determination unit determines a direction from which the radio wave comes based on a signal strength of the received radio wave. The distance measurement unit receives the radio wave and measures a distance from an installation position of the distance measurement unit to the mobile terminal based on information other than a signal strength of the received radio wave. The correction unit corrects the measured distance to be a distance from an edge of the vehicle to the mobile terminal based on the determined direction and the installation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Naohito TAKASUKA, Youichirou SUZUKI, Kenichirou SANJI
  • Patent number: 10605780
    Abstract: In order to detect a road surface condition, a road surface condition estimation device extracts a detection signal of a portion that detects vibration in a tire tangential direction in a vibration detection and power generation unit which is in a ground contact section, for example, a vibration power generation element. In this case, it is identified that the vibration detection and power generation unit is in the ground contact section, based on whether a centrifugal force acting on the vibration detection and power generation unit is generated, or not, and it is identified that a time when no centrifugal force is generated is in the ground contact section. As a result, even if a pulse level of an output voltage of the vibration detection generation unit changes according to a traveling speed of the vehicle, the ground contact section can be accurately identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 10597009
    Abstract: A road surface condition estimation device extracts a detection signal of a vibration power generation element during a ground contact section to detect a road surface condition. A threshold used for determination of the ground contact section is variable according to a traveling speed of a vehicle. As a result, even if a pulse level of an output voltage of the vibration power generation element changes according to the traveling speed of the vehicle, the threshold corresponding to the change can be set. The ground contact section is determined with the use of the above thresholds, thereby being capable of performing the determination with high accuracy. Therefore, the road surface condition can be detected with high accuracy based on the ground contact section determined with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 10471959
    Abstract: A vehicle control device including a tire-side device and a vehicle-side device is provided. The tire-side device includes a vibration detection unit that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a magnitude of vibration of a tire, a signal processing unit that generates ? data representing a friction coefficient between the tire and a road surface by processing the detection signal, and a transmitter that transmits the ? data. The vehicle-side device includes a receiver that receives the ? data and a travel control unit that estimates the friction coefficient based on the ? data, acquires a braking distance of the vehicle based on the friction coefficient, and controls acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle based on the braking distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Publication number: 20180364197
    Abstract: In order to detect a road surface condition, a road surface condition estimation device extracts a detection signal of a portion that detects vibration in a tire tangential direction in a vibration detection and power generation unit which is in a ground contact section, for example, a vibration power generation element. In this case, it is identified that the vibration detection and power generation unit is in the ground contact section, based on whether a centrifugal force acting on the vibration detection and power generation unit is generated, or not, and it is identified that a time when no centrifugal force is generated is in the ground contact section. As a result, even if a pulse level of an output voltage of the vibration detection generation unit changes according to a traveling speed of the vehicle, the ground contact section can be accurately identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Youichirou SUZUKI, Akira TAKAOKA, Takatoshi SEKIZAWA
  • Patent number: 10099699
    Abstract: A road surface condition estimation device includes a tire side device and a vehicle side device. The tire side device includes a vibration detection unit attached to a back surface of a tire tread and outputting a detection signal indicating a tire vibration magnitude, a signal processing unit, and a transmitter. The signal processing unit extracts a ground contact duration during which a portion of the tread corresponding to an arrangement position of the vibration detection unit is in contact with a ground, and calculates a high frequency component level of the detection signal detected during the ground contact duration as road surface condition data. When the ground contact duration is ended, a transmission trigger is transmitted to the transmitter and the transmitter transmits the road surface condition data. The vehicle side device estimates a road surface condition of the travelling road based on the road surface condition data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takashi Saitou, Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 10086835
    Abstract: A road-surface-condition estimation device is configured by a tire-side device and a vehicle-side device so as to grasp a road surface condition based on road surface condition data transmitted from a tire-side device. As a result, the road surface condition or a road surface ? of a traveling road surface of a vehicle can be accurately detected, and a more accurate lane keeping control can be performed according to the detection result. In particular, since the tire-side device estimates the road surface condition by detecting the vibration of a ground contact surface of the tire, the road surface condition can be estimated more accurately. Therefore, the more accurate lane keeping control can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, SOKEN INC
    Inventors: Takatoshi Sekizawa, Youichirou Suzuki, Masashi Mori, Akira Takaoka
  • Patent number: 10086842
    Abstract: A road surface condition estimation device includes a tire side device and a vehicle side device. The tire side device includes a vibration detection unit outputting a detection signal indicating a tire vibration magnitude, a signal processing unit, and a transmitter. The signal processing unit extracts a ground contact duration during which a portion of the tread corresponding to an arrangement position of the vibration detection unit is in contact with a ground, calculates a high frequency component level of the detection signal detected during the ground contact duration, counts cumulative rotation number of the tire, and corrects the level of the high frequency component based on the cumulative rotation number of the tire. The transmitter transmits corrected level of the high frequency component as road surface condition data. The vehicle side device estimates a road surface condition of the travelling road based on the received road surface condition data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takashi Saitou, Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Publication number: 20180222458
    Abstract: A road surface condition estimation device extracts a detection signal of a vibration power generation element during a ground contact section to detect a road surface condition. A threshold used for determination of the ground contact section is variable according to a traveling speed of a vehicle. As a result, even if a pulse level of an output voltage of the vibration power generation element changes according to the traveling speed of the vehicle, the threshold corresponding to the change can be set. The ground contact section is determined with the use of the above thresholds, thereby being capable of performing the determination with high accuracy. Therefore, the road surface condition can be detected with high accuracy based on the ground contact section determined with high accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Youichirou SUZUKI, Akira TAKAOKA, Takatoshi SEKIZAWA
  • Patent number: 10029681
    Abstract: An erroneous start is controlled based on vibrations of a tire, irrespective of a poor visibility or an algorithm of an image processing. A tire-side unit detects a vibration of a tire when the tire has collided with a wheel stop or the like, and outputs collision data to a vehicle-side unit. The vehicle-side unit determines an erroneous start of the vehicle. Therefore, the erroneous start of the vehicle can be controlled without being affected by the poor visibility or the algorithm of the image processing as in a case of utilizing a camera or a radar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takashi Saitou, Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Publication number: 20180118209
    Abstract: A vehicle control device including a tire-side device and a vehicle-side device is provided. The tire-side device includes a vibration detection unit that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a magnitude of vibration of a tire, a signal processing unit that generates ? data representing a friction coefficient between the tire and a road surface by processing the detection signal, and a transmitter that transmits the ? data. The vehicle-side device includes a receiver that receives the ? data and a travel control unit that estimates the friction coefficient based on the ? data, acquires a braking distance of the vehicle based on the friction coefficient, and controls acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle based on the braking distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Youichirou SUZUKI, Akira TAKAOKA, Masashi MORI, Takatoshi SEKIZAWA
  • Patent number: 9827815
    Abstract: A tire device includes a vibration power generating element, a signal processing unit, and a transmitter. The vibration power generating element is arranged inside a tire and outputs a voltage corresponding to a time variation of a vibration generated in a tread of the tire. The signal processing unit is disposed inside the tire and performs signal processing on the voltage outputted from the vibration power generating element. The transmitter is arranged inside the tire and sends data subjected to the signal processing in the signal processing unit to a device provided outside the tire. The signal processing unit and the transmitter are driven by power generated in the vibration power generating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Takashi Saitou, Akira Takaoka, Nobuya Watabe, Takatoshi Sekizawa, Masashi Mori
  • Publication number: 20170305421
    Abstract: A road-surface-condition estimation device is configured by a tire-side device and a vehicle-side device so as to grasp a road surface condition based on road surface condition data transmitted from a tire-side device. As a result, the road surface condition or a road surface ? of a traveling road surface of a vehicle can be accurately detected, and a more accurate lane keeping control can be performed according to the detection result. In particular, since the tire-side device estimates the road surface condition by detecting the vibration of a ground contact surface of the tire, the road surface condition can be estimated more accurately. Therefore, the more accurate lane keeping control can be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Takatoshi SEKIZAWA, Youichirou SUZUKI, Masashi MORI, Akira TAKAOKA
  • Patent number: 9764714
    Abstract: In a vehicular control device, an operating intention detection unit is disposed on a tire or wheel rim of a vehicle to detect an operating intention of a user relative to an opening/closing body of the vehicle. An operating intention acquisition unit is disposed on the vehicle body of the vehicle to acquire the operating intention. An ID code acquisition unit acquires, from a mobile device carried by the user, an ID code that identifies the user or the mobile device. An ID code determination unit determines whether the ID code is correct. The condition establishment determination unit determines, based on the operating intention of the user and on the result of ID code determination, whether an output condition for outputting operating instruction information that designates an operation of the opening/closing body is established. An output unit outputs the operating instruction information when the output conditions are established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takashi Saitou, Masashi Mori
  • Patent number: 9713944
    Abstract: Data representing a ground contact time of a tire is transmitted from a tire side device, and received by a vehicle side device to calculate the ground contact time of the tire, to thereby calculate a ground contact length of the tire at that time. In a situation where a tire air pressure may change such as a tire exchange, the ground contact length at that time is set as a reference ground contact length, and a determination reference value is set on the basis of the reference ground contact length. As a result, the relative determination reference value corresponding to the tire type can be set, and a variation of the reduction rate of the tire air pressure when it is determined that the tire air pressure is reduced can be reduced. As a result, the reduction in the tire air pressure can be detected with high precision regardless of the tire type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takashi Saitou, Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Publication number: 20170080927
    Abstract: An erroneous start is controlled based on vibrations of a tire, irrespective of a poor visibility or an algorithm of an image processing. A tire-side unit detects a vibration of a tire when the tire has collided with a wheel stop or the like, and outputs collision data to a vehicle-side unit. The vehicle-side unit determines an erroneous start of the vehicle. Therefore, the erroneous start of the vehicle can be controlled without being affected by the poor visibility or the algorithm of the image processing as in a case of utilizing a camera or a radar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou SUZUKI, Akira TAKAOKA, Takashi SAITOU, Nobuya WATABE, Masashi MORI, Takatoshi SEKIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20170057306
    Abstract: Data representing a ground contact time of a tire is transmitted from a tire side device, and received by a vehicle side device to calculate the ground contact time of the tire, to thereby calculate a ground contact length of the tire at that time. In a situation where a tire air pressure may change such as a tire exchange, the ground contact length at that time is set as a reference ground contact length, and a determination reference value is set on the basis of the reference ground contact length. As a result, the relative determination reference value corresponding to the tire type can be set, and a variation of the reduction rate of the tire air pressure when it is determined that the tire air pressure is reduced can be reduced. As a result, the reduction in the tire air pressure can be detected with high precision regardless of the tire type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Youichirou SUZUKI, Akira TAKAOKA, Takashi SAITOU, Nobuya WATABE, Masashi MORI, Takatoshi SEKIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20160368501
    Abstract: A road surface condition estimation device includes a tire side device and a vehicle side device. The tire side device includes a vibration detection unit attached to a back surface of a tire tread and outputting a detection signal indicating a tire vibration magnitude, a signal processing unit, and a transmitter. The signal processing unit extracts a ground contact duration during which a portion of the tread corresponding to an arrangement position of the vibration detection unit is in contact with a ground, and calculates a high frequency component level of the detection signal detected during the ground contact duration as road surface condition data. When the ground contact duration is ended, a transmission trigger is transmitted to the transmitter and the transmitter transmits the road surface condition data. The vehicle side device estimates a road surface condition of the travelling road based on the road surface condition data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Youichirou SUZUKI, Akira TAKAOKA, Takashi SAITOU, Nobuya WATABE, Masashi MORI, Takatoshi SEKIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20160368502
    Abstract: A road surface condition estimation device includes a tire side device and a vehicle side device. The tire side device includes a vibration detection unit outputting a detection signal indicating a tire vibration magnitude, a signal processing unit, and a transmitter. The signal processing unit extracts a ground contact duration during which a portion of the tread corresponding to an arrangement position of the vibration detection unit is in contact with a ground, calculates a high frequency component level of the detection signal detected during the ground contact duration, counts cumulative rotation number of the tire, and corrects the level of the high frequency component based on the cumulative rotation number of the tire. The transmitter transmits corrected level of the high frequency component as road surface condition data. The vehicle side device estimates a road surface condition of the travelling road based on the received road surface condition data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou SUZUKI, Akira TAKAOKA, Takashi SAITOU, Nobuya WATABE, Masashi MORI, Takatoshi SEKIZAWA
  • Publication number: 20160297399
    Abstract: In a vehicular control device, an operating intention detection unit is disposed on a tire or wheel rim of a vehicle to detect an operating intention of a user relative to an opening/closing body of the vehicle. An operating intention acquisition unit is disposed on the vehicle body of the vehicle to acquire the operating intention. An ID code acquisition unit acquires, from a mobile device carried by the user, an ID code that identifies the user or the mobile device. An ID code determination unit determines whether the ID code is correct. The condition establishment determination unit determines, based on the operating intention of the user and on the result of ID code determination, whether an output condition for outputting operating instruction information that designates an operation of the opening/closing body is established. An output unit outputs the operating instruction information when the output conditions are established.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Youichirou SUZUKI, Akira TAKAOKA, Takashi SAITOU, Masashi MORI