Patents by Inventor Yuji Sato

Yuji Sato 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: 9150185
    Abstract: An inflation portion of an airbag main body is divided into a first inflation chamber, a second inflation chamber in front of and adjacent to the first inflation chamber with a vertical partition in between, and a third inflation chamber below the first inflation chamber with a lateral partition in between. The vertical partition has a pressure regulator valve. Before the first inflation chamber restrains an occupant, the pressure regulator valve restricts flow of inflation gas from the first inflation chamber to the second inflation chamber. When the first inflation chamber restrains the occupant, the pressure regulator valve opens in response to a change in the tensed state of the vertical partition due to the applied external force generated by the restraint, thereby cancelling the restraint. The lateral partition has a check valve, which restricts flow of inflation gas from the third inflation chamber to the first inflation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Hotta, Yuji Sato, Yoshiaki Goto, Kensaku Honda
  • Publication number: 20150274117
    Abstract: A side airbag apparatus includes an airbag main body. The inside of the airbag main body is divided by a vertical partition including a gas flow restrictor at least into an upstream inflation portion, which is located rearward of the vertical partition and receives inflating gas, and a downstream inflation portion, which is located forward of the vertical partition and receives the inflating gas that has passed through the upstream inflation portion and the gas flow restrictor. The dimension of the vertical partition in the widthwise direction of the automobile seat is set to a dimension that is equal or approximate to the dimension of the airbag main body in the widthwise direction in a case in which the airbag main body is inflated without the vertical partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Takashi IIDA, Masashi HOTTA, Takuya HIRAIWA, Yuji SATO
  • Publication number: 20150251494
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire that includes strip members which extends in a tire circumferential direction, both ends thereof reaching each bead portion, a belt layer is disposed in a tread portion on an outer side in a tire radial direction of the strip members. The strip members are divided in the tire width direction, and the divided strip members have joints that join together in the tire circumferential direction. Relative positions of the joints are disposed deviated by not less than 20° in the tire circumferential direction within a region between an edge of a maximum width in the tire width direction of the belt layer and a maximum tire width position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hata, Yuji Sato
  • Publication number: 20150239418
    Abstract: A section of an inflator from a longitudinally middle portion to a gas outlet is defined as an insertion section. The insertion section is inserted in an airbag through an insertion opening and is arranged along the inner wall surface of the airbag. The inflator includes a proximal end located opposite to the gas outlet. The section of the inflator from the middle portion to the proximal end, that is, an exposed section is located outside the airbag and is arranged along the outer wall surface of the airbag. A lid sheet inside the airbag closes a gap between an inner edge of the insertion opening and the inflator from a position inward of the insertion section. The lid sheet includes a joint located along the rear portion of the insertion opening in the insertion direction of the inflator. The lid sheet is joined to the airbag with the joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Masashi HOTTA, Yuji SATO
  • Patent number: 9062987
    Abstract: A travel guidance system including a navigation-route setting unit; a traffic-light-position acquiring unit that acquires a position of an exit-side traffic light at a preceding junction that is located closer to a departure place of a navigation route than a guidance junction; a movable-body-position acquiring unit that acquires a position of a movable body; a guidance-starting-point acquiring unit, the guidance starting point being determined from a position of the movable body relative to the exit-side traffic light at the preceding junction; a passage determining unit that determines whether the movable body has passed through the guidance starting point from the position of the movable body and the position of the guidance starting point; and a junction guiding unit that starts the guidance on the guidance junction when the passage determining unit determines that the movable body has passed through the guidance starting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 9064155
    Abstract: Image recognition is performed based on a surrounding image and a recognition template used for the image recognition of a marker object, and a recognition confidence level used for determining if the marker object can be recognized in the surrounding image is calculated. A determination is made if the recognition confidence level has increased as compared with the recognition confidence level calculated based on the surrounding image acquired at the guidance output point. If it is determined that the recognition confidence level has increased, the image of the marker object, generated based on the surrounding image acquired at the guidance output point, is stored as a new template to be used for the image recognition of the marker object. This increases the possibility to recognize the marker object based on the new template, thus increasing the recognition accuracy of the marker object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Mori, Yuji Sato
  • Publication number: 20150165820
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire including: a cylindrical annular structure; a rubber layer, which will become a tread portion, provided along a circumferential direction of the annular structure on an outer side of the annular structure; a carcass portion provided on at least both sides in a width direction of the cylindrical structure including the annular structure and the rubber layer; and an extending portion that extends from both sides in the width direction of the annular structure farther outward in the width direction than a ground contact edge on the outer side in the width direction of the tread portion, and that is provided in plurality on both sides in the width direction along the circumferential direction of the annular structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanno, Noboru Takada, Yuji Sato, Jun Matsuda, Yuji Kodama, Susumu Imamiya
  • Patent number: 9046380
    Abstract: In a guiding method, an object of interest existing in a vicinity of a guidance point, at which a driver of a vehicle needs guidance, on a travel path of the vehicle is retrieved. A recognizable range the driver will have is estimated based on at least one of (a) time required to provide guidance with respect to the object of interest and (b) time required for the driver to visually check the object of interest after receiving the guidance. The guidance with respect to the object of interest is provided when the object of interest exists in the estimated recognizable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Mori, Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 9031318
    Abstract: A mark object that serves as a marker for a guidance point on a set route is specified, and coloration information related to a coloration of the mark object is acquired. Based on the coloration information, a correction information creating object before the mark object on the route having a coloration similar to the coloration of the mark object is specified. An image of the correction information creating object while a vehicle travels the route is acquired as a correcting image, and color correction information is calculated based on acquired color information and existing color information. A recognition template is then corrected based on the calculated color correction information to create a correction template. Thus, because the recognition template used for recognizing the mark object is corrected to a color more closely resembling the actual appearance of the mark object, the recognition accuracy of the mark object can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 9031286
    Abstract: Disclosed is an object detection method capable of detecting with high precision information relating to a jointed object from image data. An object detection device (160) detects information relating to an object from image data of images captured of an object having multiple parts connected by joints. The disclosed object detection device (160) is provided with a joint angle extraction unit (161) which extracts the angle of a joint connecting two parts from candidates of the positions of two neighboring parts obtained from the image data, and a part length ratio estimation unit (165) which uses the joint angle to perform the detection described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoko Kawaguchi, Masamoto Tanabiki, Kensuke Maruya, Yuji Sato, Mitsuko Fujita
  • Patent number: 9001354
    Abstract: An image forming device transmits a transmission request data to a server on a network and receives content data from the server. The received content data is printed on a recording medium, and the transmission request data transmitted to the server is stored in a memory. When print error is detected before the received data was completely printed, the image forming device notifies a user of the print error. After the print error is resolved, the image forming device automatically retransmit the transmission request data to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Enomoto, Yuji Sato, Masatoshi Kokubo
  • Patent number: 8991458
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire including: a cylindrical annular structure; a rubber layer, which will become a tread portion, provided along a circumferential direction of the annular structure on an outer side of the annular structure; a carcass portion provided on at least both sides in a width direction of the cylindrical structure including the annular structure and the rubber layer; and an extending portion that extends from both sides in the width direction of the annular structure farther outward in the width direction than a ground contact edge on the outer side in the width direction of the tread portion, and that is provided in plurality on both sides in the width direction along the circumferential direction of the annular structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanno, Noboru Takada, Yuji Sato, Jun Matsuda, Yuji Kodama, Susumu Imamiya
  • Patent number: 8981917
    Abstract: An emergency report apparatus in a vehicle transmits a signal of an emergency report to a center apparatus via a communication network when determining that the vehicle collides. The apparatus has a plurality functions for the emergency report with an operating power supplied from a vehicle battery in the vehicle. A backup battery is included to supply an operating power when the electric power supplied from the vehicle battery declines. A measurement device is included to measure a battery capability of the backup battery. A restriction device is included to restrict a function for the emergency report when the battery capability measured is lower than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichirou Hiramatsu, Yuji Sato
  • Publication number: 20150055875
    Abstract: With this device, an edge pair likelihood map generation unit (120) computes an edge pair likelihood which denotes the plausibility that a pixel of a pair is an edge of an estimation subject site, and generates an edge pair likelihood map which denotes the edge pair likelihood for each pixel. A continuity likelihood map generation unit (130) evaluates, upon the edge pair likelihood map, the continuity for the edge pair likelihood of a pixel which is included in a region wherein the estimate subject site is presumed, and generates a continuity likelihood map which denotes an edge pair likelihood which has continuity as a candidate region of the estimate subject site. An integrated likelihood map generation unit (140) generates an integrated likelihood map which denotes the candidate region which the continuity likelihood map denotes, refined based on a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Kyoko Kawaguchi, Masamoto Tanabiki, Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 8960251
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire designed so that when a hook and loop fastener is fitted to the tire internal face of a pneumatic tire furnished with an inner liner layer consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer composition of a blend of thermoplastic resin and elastomer, or a thermoplastic resin, the hook and loop fastener can easily follow the elongation of the inner liner layer and is free from damaging of the inner liner layer. There is disclosed a pneumatic tire furnished on its internal face with an inner liner layer (7) consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer composition composed of thermoplastic resin and elastomer, or a thermoplastic resin, characterized in that integral forming of a multiplicity of interlocking elements (8) protruding on the hollow side of the tire is effected on the surface of the inner layer (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanno, Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 8942924
    Abstract: A travel guidance system and method are provided. The travel guidance system includes a navigation-route setting unit that sets a navigation route, a guidance junction on the navigation route and a junction acquiring unit that acquires a position of a preceding junction that is located closer to a departure place of the navigation route than the guidance junction. The system also includes a guidance setting unit that sets guidance on the guidance junction and a junction guiding unit that provides guidance on the guidance junction on the basis of the guidance set by the guidance setting unit. The system is configured such that the guidance includes a first phrase for specifying a positional relationship between the movable body and the preceding junction and a second phrase for specifying a positional relationship between the movable body and the guidance junction after the movable body has passed through the preceding junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Sato
  • Publication number: 20150021884
    Abstract: An airbag is formed in a bag shape by joining margins of one pair of main body cloth portions. Inflation gas is supplied from an inflator to the airbag according to an impact given from the side of a vehicle seat. With this supply, the airbag deploys and inflates. A longitudinal partition portion is laid between the one pair of main body cloth portions. The longitudinal partition portion partitions an interior of the airbag into a front part and a rear part and has a communication hole. An inside one of the main body cloth portions constituting the airbag is attached to a car. The airbag is attached to a side frame inside the vehicle seat at a position between a rear end of the inside main body cloth portion and the longitudinal partition portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Takuya HIRAIWA, Yuji SATO, Takashi IIDA, Masashi HOTTA
  • Publication number: 20150021887
    Abstract: An airbag main body is divided into a first inflation chamber, a second inflation chamber, and a third inflation chamber. The third inflation chamber is inflated beside the lumbar region of an occupant. The vertical partition has a communication hole that connects the first inflation chamber and the second inflation chamber to each other. The airbag main body has a gas passage, which extends in the up-down direction and surrounds at least the gas outlet of an inflator. The gas passage bridges the first inflation chamber and the third inflation chamber. The gas passage has an upper opening, which faces a part of the first inflation chamber that is inflated beside the shoulder region of the occupant. The gas passage also has a lower opening, which faces the third inflation chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Takuya HIRAIWA, Yuji SATO, Takashi IIDA, Masashi HOTTA
  • Patent number: 8934674
    Abstract: Provided is a person detection device with which it is possible to estimate a state of a part of a person from an image. A person detection device (100) comprises: an evaluation unit (430) which acquires a prescribed outline of a person from an evaluation image; and a shoulder position calculation unit (440) and an orientation estimation unit (500) which estimate a state of a prescribed part of a person which is included in the evaluation image from the prescribed outline of the person which is acquired from the evaluation image, on the basis of an estimation model which denotes a relation between the prescribed outline and the state of the prescribed part of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masamoto Tanabiki, Kensuke Maruya, Mitsuko Fujita, Kyoko Kawaguchi, Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 8924153
    Abstract: A navigation apparatus and method are provided. The navigation apparatus includes an image acquiring part that acquires an image of a road feature from a vehicle camera. The apparatus also includes a correction distance table that stores a correction distance to correct a difference between a position of a vehicle when the feature disappears from an imaging area of the camera and a guidance output reference position that is a position of the vehicle when the feature disappears from a driver's view. Further, a judging part is included and judges, based on the image acquired by the image acquiring part and the correction distance stored in the correction distance table, whether the vehicle has arrived at the guidance output reference position. Lastly, the apparatus includes a guidance part that provides guidance regarding the traffic light at a predetermined position having the guidance output reference position as a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidefumi Okabe, Yuji Sato