Patents by Inventor Yuichi Watano

Yuichi Watano 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: 12289515
    Abstract: A gated camera for dividing a field of view into a plurality of ranges in a depth direction and generating a plurality of slice images corresponding to the plurality of ranges, the gated camera includes: an illumination device configured to irradiate the field of view with pulse illumination light; an image sensor; and a camera controller configured to control a light emission timing of the illumination device and an exposure timing of the image sensor. The camera controller is configured to switch between a first imaging mode in which performance is relatively high and power consumption is relatively high, and a second imaging mode in which performance is relatively low and power consumption is relatively low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignees: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., BRIGHTWAY VISION LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Endo, Jun Kano, Manabu Kato, Yuichi Watano
  • Patent number: 12269391
    Abstract: A left vehicle lamp (2L) includes a lamp housing (14), a lamp cover (12) that covers an opening of the lamp housing (14), an illumination unit (3, 4) that is disposed inside a lamp chamber (S) formed by the lamp housing (14) and the lamp power bar (12), a radar (5) configured to acquire a radar data indicating a surrounding environment of a vehicle by emitting radio waves toward the outside of the vehicle, and a light guide member (6) that is disposed in a manner of facing the radar (5) so as to hide at least a part of the radar (5) from the outside of the vehicle and is configured to transmit radio waves emitted from the radar (5). The radar (5) is disposed outside the housing (S). The light guide member (6) is configured to emit light toward the outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Katsurada, Yuta Maruyama, Osamu Kuboyama, Akihito Horikawa, Kosei Kikuchi, Yuichi Watano
  • Patent number: 12248074
    Abstract: Provided is a LiDAR sensor unit in which even when a lens element is provided, measurement data is less likely to be affected by the lens element. A LiDAR sensor unit has: a LiDAR sensor; a lens element that is provided on an optical path of light emitted from the LiDAR sensor; and a processing unit that outputs measurement data which has been measured by the LiDAR sensor and which includes the orientation and the distance of a measurement subject. The processing unit is configured to not output measurement data of a specific orientation which is the same but the distance corresponding thereto differs before and after attachment of the lens element under the same environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Watano, Shunsuke Okamura, Yoshiaki Fushimi
  • Patent number: 12222082
    Abstract: A right-side vehicle lamp (2R) comprises: a lamp housing (14); a lamp cover (12) that covers an opening in the lamp housing (14); a low-beam illumination unit (3) positioned inside a lamp chamber (S) formed from the lamp housing (14) and the lamp cover (12); radar (5) configured so as to emit radio waves outside the vehicle, thereby acquiring radar data; and a shielding part (6) positioned so as to face the radar (5) so as to shield the radar (5) from the outside of the vehicle, the shielding part (6) being configured so as to transmit the radio waves emitted from the radar (5). The shielding part (6) is formed integrally with the lamp cover (12). The boundary (B) between the shielding part (6) and the lamp cover (12) is positioned outside the field of view (Fv) of the radar (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Maruyama, Yoshihiro Katsurada, Yuichi Watano, Osamu Kuboyama
  • Publication number: 20250010786
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp system includes a first light distribution variable lamp that forms a first light distribution pattern having a first hot zone, a second light distribution variable lamp that forms a second light distribution pattern outside the first light distribution pattern in a width direction of a vehicle, and a light distribution controlling device that controls the first light distribution variable lamp and the second light distribution variable lamp. The light distribution controlling device controls the first light distribution variable lamp and the second light distribution variable lamp so as to swivel the first hot zone within the first light distribution pattern and to form the second light distribution pattern outside the first light distribution pattern where the first hot zone swivels to.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao MURAMATSU, Yuta MARUYAMA, Yuichi WATANO
  • Patent number: 12187186
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp system includes an illuminance variable lamp, a lamp-mounted camera, and a lamp control unit. After acquiring position information of a low accuracy region from a vehicle control unit, the lamp control unit acquires illuminance of the low accuracy region by referring to information acquired by the lamp-mounted camera, controls the illuminance variable lamp so as to increase the illuminance of the low accuracy region if the illuminance of the low accuracy region is less than a threshold, and/or controls the illuminance variable lamp so as to decrease the illuminance of the low accuracy region if the illuminance of the low accuracy region is equal to or greater than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Watano, Takao Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20240391428
    Abstract: A vehicle sensor device (1) includes an outer cover (12), a sensor unit (20) that is disposed deeper inside a vehicle (VE) than the outer cover (12), detects an object using electromagnetic waves transmitted and received through the outer cover (12), and outputs a detection signal related to the detection of the object, and a control unit (CO). The control unit (CO) makes a determination of whether an object detected by sensor unit (20) is included in an image signal from a camera (51) that is mounted on the vehicle (VE) and photographs a detection range of the sensor unit (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi WATANO, Osamu KUBOYAMA, Yoshihiro KATSURADA
  • Publication number: 20240369701
    Abstract: A right-side vehicular lamp includes: a lamp housing; a lamp cover; an illumination unit disposed in a lamp chamber; a radar configured to acquire radar data representing the surrounding environment of a vehicle by emitting radio waves toward the outside of the vehicle; a concealment part that is disposed so as to face the radar so as to conceal the radar from the outside of the vehicle and that is configured to allow the radio waves emitted from the radar to pass through; a support member that is fixed to a vehicle body and that is configured to support and fix the radar; and a positioning part that is disposed between the concealment part and the support member and that is configured to determine a position of the radar with respect to the concealment part. The concealment part is formed integrally with the lamp cover. The positioning part is fixed to the concealment part and engages elastically with the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Katsurada, Yuichi Watano, Osamu Kuboyama, Yuta Maruyama
  • Patent number: 12055626
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes: a lamp housing; a lamp cover; an illumination unit disposed in a lamp chamber; a radar configured to acquire radar data indicating surroundings of a vehicle by emitting an electromagnetic wave outside the vehicle; a concealing part that faces the radar to conceal the radar from the outside of the vehicle and is configured to let the electromagnetic wave emitted from the radar through; a support member that is fixed to a vehicle body and is configured to support and fix the radar; and a positioning part that is disposed between the concealing part and the support member and is configured to position the radar to the concealing part. The concealing part is formed integrally with the lamp cover. The positioning part is fixed to the concealing part and is configured to engage with the support member elastically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Katsurada, Yuichi Watano, Osamu Kuboyama, Yuta Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20240227671
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp apparatus includes: a lamp unit; a controller that controls the lamp unit based on vehicle information received from a vehicle; and an acceleration sensor that provides information indicating vehicle acceleration to the controller. The controller detects whether or not reception of the vehicle information is interrupted and controls the lamp unit based on the vehicle acceleration when interruption in the reception of the vehicle information is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi NAKAZAWA, Yuichi WATANO, Yuta MARUYAMA, Takahiro TOTSUKA, Yasushi OHTSUKA
  • Patent number: 11964608
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp system includes a light distribution control device that controls a first lamp unit and a second lamp unit. The light distribution control device forms a combined high-illuminance pattern in a region where no target is present. Meanwhile, the light distribution control device forms a combined shading pattern in regard to a forward vehicle. Furthermore, in regard to a specific target, the light distribution control device controls the first lamp unit so as to form an illuminance fixed pattern, controls the second lamp unit so as to form an illuminance fixed pattern or to form an illuminance adjusted pattern, and forms a combined mid-illuminance pattern by superposing the light distribution patterns that the first lamp unit and the second lamp unit form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Muramatsu, Yuta Maruyama, Yuichi Watano
  • Publication number: 20240109474
    Abstract: A light distribution control device, if a first upper limit number N1?the number of near-distance targets T1, controls a lamp to irradiate the near-distance targets with light having illuminance according to attributes of the near-distance targets; if a remaining number M?the number of long-distance targets T2, controls the lamp to irradiate the long-distance targets with light having illuminance according to attributes of the long-distance targets; if N1<T1, controls the lamp to form a light distribution pattern that does not depend on the near-distance targets and the long-distance targets; and, if M<T2, controls the lamp to form a light distribution pattern that does not depend on the long-distance targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirohiko OSHIO, Yuichi WATANO, Takashi TERAYAMA, Hikaru NAGAI
  • Publication number: 20240109473
    Abstract: A left vehicle lamp (2L) includes a lamp housing (14), a lamp cover (12) that covers an opening of the lamp housing (14), an illumination unit (3, 4) that is disposed inside a lamp chamber (S) formed by the lamp housing (14) and the lamp power bar (12), a radar (5) configured to acquire a radar data indicating a surrounding environment of a vehicle by emitting radio waves toward the outside of the vehicle, and a light guide member (6) that is disposed in a manner of facing the radar (5) so as to hide at least a part of the radar (5) from the outside of the vehicle and is configured to transmit radio waves emitted from the radar (5). The radar (5) is disposed outside the housing (S). The light guide member (6) is configured to emit light toward the outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Katsurada, Yuta Maruyama, Osamu Kuboyama, Akihito Horikawa, Kosei Kikuchi, Yuichi Watano
  • Publication number: 20240110686
    Abstract: A right-side vehicle lamp (2R) comprises: a lamp housing (14); a lamp cover (12) that covers an opening in the lamp housing (14); a low-beam illumination unit (3) positioned inside a lamp chamber (S) formed from the lamp housing (14) and the lamp cover (12); radar (5) configured so as to emit radio waves outside the vehicle, thereby acquiring radar data; and a shielding part (6) positioned so as to face the radar (5) so as to shield the radar (5) from the outside of the vehicle, the shielding part (6) being configured so as to transmit the radio waves emitted from the radar (5). The shielding part (6) is formed integrally with the lamp cover (12). The boundary (B) between the shielding part (6) and the lamp cover (12) is positioned outside the field of view (Fv) of the radar (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Maruyama, Yoshihiro Katsurada, Yuichi Watano, Osamu Kuboyama
  • Patent number: 11878622
    Abstract: A left vehicle lamp includes a lamp housing, a lamp cover that covers an opening of the lamp housing, an illumination unit that is disposed inside a lamp chamber formed by the lamp housing and the lamp power bar, a radar) configured to acquire a radar data indicating a surrounding environment of a vehicle by emitting radio waves toward the outside of the vehicle, and a light guide member that is disposed in a manner of facing the radar so as to hide at least a part of the radar from the outside of the vehicle and is configured to transmit radio waves emitted from the radar. The radar is disposed outside the housing. The light guide member is configured to emit light toward the outside of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Katsurada, Yuichi Watano, Yuta Maruyama, Osamu Kuboyama, Akihito Horikawa, Kosei Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20240017663
    Abstract: A vehicular lamp system includes a light distribution control device that controls a first lamp unit and a second lamp unit. The light distribution control device forms a combined high-illuminance pattern in a region where no target is present. Meanwhile, the light distribution control device forms a combined shading pattern in regard to a forward vehicle. Furthermore, in regard to a specific target, the light distribution control device controls the first lamp unit so as to form an illuminance fixed pattern, controls the second lamp unit so as to form an illuminance fixed pattern or to form an illuminance adjusted pattern, and forms a combined mid-illuminance pattern by superposing the light distribution patterns that the first lamp unit and the second lamp unit form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao MURAMATSU, Yuta MARUYAMA, Yuichi WATANO
  • Patent number: 11873964
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes: a lamp housing; a lamp cover covering an opening of the lamp housing; an illumination unit disposed in a lamp chamber formed by the lamp housing and the lamp cover; a radar configured to acquire radar data indicating surroundings of a vehicle by emitting an electromagnetic wave outside the vehicle; and a concealing part that faces the radar to conceal the radar from the outside of the vehicle and is configured to let the electromagnetic wave emitted from the radar through. The concealing part is formed integrally with the lamp cover. A boundary between the concealing part and the lamp cover is out of a field of view of the radar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Maruyama, Yoshihiro Katsurada, Yuichi Watano, Osamu Kuboyama
  • Publication number: 20230415637
    Abstract: A light distribution control device controls formation of a light distribution pattern by a light distribution variable lamp. The light distribution control device controls the light distribution variable lamp so as to reduce an illuminance of light that illuminates a non-traveling road when a vehicle reaches a first location a predetermined distance before a forked road, while a normal light distribution pattern is formed that includes, in an illumination range thereof, a side illuminating a traveling road of the vehicle at the forked road and a side illuminating the non-traveling road, and to form a guiding light distribution pattern in which an illuminance of light that illuminates the traveling road is higher than the illuminance of the light that illuminates the non-traveling road.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirohiko OSHIO, Yuichi WATANO, Koji ISHIHARA, Takashi TERAYAMA, Tatsuma KITAZAWA, Takao MURAMATSU, Shuji MATSUURA
  • Publication number: 20230415638
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp system includes an illuminance variable lamp, a lamp-mounted camera, and a lamp control unit. After acquiring position information of a low accuracy region from a vehicle control unit, the lamp control unit acquires illuminance of the low accuracy region by referring to information acquired by the lamp-mounted camera, controls the illuminance variable lamp so as to increase the illuminance of the low accuracy region if the illuminance of the low accuracy region is less than a threshold, and/or controls the illuminance variable lamp so as to decrease the illuminance of the low accuracy region if the illuminance of the low accuracy region is equal to or greater than the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi WATANO, Takao MURAMATSU
  • Publication number: 20230382289
    Abstract: Provided is a lamp mounted on a vehicle where a lamp housing of the lamp is equipped with a lamp camera that captures an image of an object existing outside the vehicle and a lamp unit of which light distribution of emitted light beams is controlled to change based on positional information of the object captured by the lamp camera, in which the lamp camera has an imaging optical axis directed in a predetermined direction with respect to the vehicle, and the lamp unit is configured such that an illumination optical axis is controlled to change in an up-down direction based on the positional information of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Watano, Yuta Maruyama, Yoshihiro Katsurada, Takuya Kataoka