IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,658,033
Granted Patent B2
US 12,658,033 · App. 18/851,139 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Foreign substance detection system and vehicle

Inventors: Kazutaka Kimura (Mishima, JP); Toshiya Hashimoto (Miyoshi, JP); Tomokiyo Suzuki (Tagata-gun, JP); Kazuyoshi Obayashi (Aichi, JP); Keisuke Tani (Aichi, JP); Nobuhisa Yamaguchi (Aichi, JP); Masaki Kanesaki (Aichi, JP); Yuichi Takemura (Aichi, JP)
Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA; DENSO CORPORATION
G08G1/0133G07C5/006G07C5/008G08G1/0112
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,658,033
App. No.
18/851,139
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A foreign substance detection system includes: a vehicle provided with a detector that detects a foreign substance present on a road on which the vehicle travels; and a server device that determines whether or not the foreign substance actually exists on the road on which the vehicle travels based on a detection result of the detector. Further, the server device evaluates validity of the detection result of the foreign substance by comparing, between a plurality of vehicles, the detection result of the foreign substance by the detector and information on a position where the foreign substance has been detected.

Claims (8)

1 . A foreign substance detection system comprising:

a first vehicle provided with (i) a detector configured to detect a foreign substance present on a road on which the vehicle travels and (ii) a transmitter configured to transmit a detection result of the detector externally of the vehicle; and

a server device configured to receive the detection result transmitted by the first vehicle and determine whether or not the foreign substance actually exists on the road on which the first vehicle travels based on the detection result of the detector, wherein

the server device evaluates validity of the detection result of the foreign substance by comparing, between a plurality of vehicles including the first vehicle, the detection result of the foreign substance by the detector and information on a position where the foreign substance has been detected, and

the server device (1) upon receiving the detection result from the first vehicle indicating that the foreign substance exists at the position on the road, stops operation of a power supply device that is present in the road adjacent to the position where the foreign substance was detected, and (2) after evaluating the validity of the detection result and determining that the detection result is invalid, restarts the operation of the power supply device that is present in the road adjacent to the position where the foreign substance was detected.

2 . The foreign substance detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the server device evaluates the validity of the detection result of the foreign substance based on a number of the vehicles determining that the foreign substance is present at the position and a number of the vehicles determining that the foreign substance is absent at the position where the foreign substance has been detected by the first vehicle.

3 . The foreign substance detection system according to claim 2 , wherein the server device transmits information prompting maintenance of the detector to (a) the vehicles that determined that the foreign substance is present at the position when the number of the vehicles determining that the foreign substance is present at the position is less than the number of the vehicles determining that the foreign substance is absent at the position and (b) the vehicles that determined that the foreign substance is absent at the position when the number of the vehicles determining that the foreign substance is absent at the position is less than the number of the vehicles determining that the foreign substance is present at the position.

4 . The foreign substance detection system according to claim 1 , wherein the server device evaluates the validity of the detection result of the foreign substance in consideration of weather and illuminance around the first vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2024
From: KIMURA, KAZUTAKA; HASHIMOTO, TOSHIYA; SUZUKI, TOMOKIYO; OBAYASHI, KAZUYOSHI; TANI, KEISUKE; YAMAGUCHI, NOBUHISA; KANESAKI, MASAKI; TAKEMURA, YUICHI
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA; DENSO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068703/0857 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-073384 · Apr 27, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250209910A1 · Jun 26, 2025
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