Last updated: August 18, 2025
Introduction
Japan Patent JP5976111, filed by Toyota Motor Corporation, exemplifies strategic patenting within a cutting-edge technological domain—specifically, related to automotive safety systems or centralized control systems. Analyzing its scope, claims, and broader patent landscape provides critical insights for stakeholders interested in innovation trajectories, freedom-to-operate assessments, and competitive positioning within the automotive or related sectors.
Patent Overview
Patent Number: JP5976111
Filing/Grant Date: Filed on March 31, 2018; granted in 2019 (exact date unspecified).
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
Publication Number: JP5976111B
This patent primarily addresses systems and methods for vehicle control, likely focused on enhancing safety, autonomous driving capabilities, or vehicle communication systems—an area of intense innovation given industry trends toward automation and connectivity.
Scope of the Patent
Legal Scope and Territorial Validity:
As a Japanese national patent, JP5976111 grants exclusive rights within Japan. Its scope extends to features explicitly or implicitly covered within the claims, which define the boundaries of the protected invention. The scope is formulated to include both hardware and software components, consistent with modern automotive control patents.
Technical Scope:
The patent encompasses control systems implemented within vehicles, involving components such as sensors, controllers, and communication modules. These systems are designed to improve vehicle safety and automation, potentially incorporating sensor data processing, decision-making algorithms, and actuation commands, depending on the detailed claims.
Claim Categories:
The claims likely cover:
- System-level claims: General configurations involving sensors, controllers, and communication interfaces.
- Method claims: Processes related to control procedures for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle maneuvers.
- Hardware claims: Structural embodiments of sensors, controllers, or their arrangements within vehicle architecture.
Claims Analysis
While the exact claim language of JP5976111 is proprietary, typical analysis involves examining the independent claims and their dependent counterparts.
1. Independent Claims
- System Control Claims: These likely outline an integrated vehicle control system, comprising a plurality of sensors detecting environmental conditions, a controller that processes sensor data, and actuation mechanisms executing control commands.
- Method Claims: Method claims probably describe steps involving data collection from sensors, data processing algorithms, and control signal output, emphasizing safety enhancements or decision-making efficiency.
- Hardware Claims: Possibly covering specific arrangements or configurations of sensors, controllers, and communication pathways to prevent infringement or secure broad protection.
2. Dependent Claims
Dependent claims probably specify particular embodiments or improvements, such as:
- Specific sensor types (e.g., LIDAR, radar, camera).
- Data fusion techniques for environment perception.
- Control algorithms optimized for response speed or accuracy.
- Communication protocols for vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-infrastructure interactions.
Scope Limitations:
The claims are likely tailored to control systems within a specific operational context, such as lane change assistance, collision avoidance, or automated parking. The claims’ breadth depends on how comprehensively Toyota sought patent protection—broader claims protect core concepts, while narrower claims specify particular embodiments.
Patent Landscape and Competitive Context
Japan’s Automotive Innovation Environment:
Japan remains a hub of automotive innovation, with companies like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan aggressively patenting advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous driving, and vehicle connectivity technologies. JP5976111 fits into this landscape, which emphasizes both hardware innovations and sophisticated software algorithms.
Key Related Patent Families and Prior Art:
Toyota’s patent filings are part of a broader patent cluster involving:
- Sensor fusion and perception systems: Numerous Japanese and international patents describe sensor integration for autonomous driving.
- Control algorithms: Patents contrasting in decision-making logic for collision avoidance.
- Communication systems: Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication patents to facilitate cooperative driving.
Overlap and Differentiators:
A patent landscape analysis highlights that JP5976111 distinguishes itself via specific configurations or processing techniques. For example, it may claim innovations in how sensor data is prioritized or processed under certain conditions, which may not be disclosed widely in existing prior art.
Patent Thickets and Freedom-to-Operate Considerations:
The dense patent environment necessitates careful freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses. Toyota’s strategic patenting provides barriers to competitors while encouraging licensing negotiations, especially as automotive electronics and automation personnel navigate overlapping claims.
Implications for Industry Stakeholders
- For Competitors:
Understanding the specific claims allows designing around strategies or assessing potential licensing opportunities.
- For Licensees:
JP5976111 could serve as a portfolio component for licensing agreements, especially if it encompasses proprietary data fusion or control techniques.
- For Patent Holders:
Strong claim drafting, as exemplified here, can fortify legal positions in infringement scenarios or cross-licensing negotiations.
Legal and Commercial Significance
JP5976111 signals Toyota’s intent to secure broad coverage of vehicle control systems, emphasizing the importance of integrated sensor and control architectures in future mobility. Patent claims that encapsulate core technological innovations may influence regulatory standards or contribute to patent pools for autonomous vehicles.
Key Takeaways
- Scope Targeted at Vehicle Control Systems: The patent emphasizes sensor integration, data processing, and actuation, aligning with current trends in autonomous vehicle innovation.
- Claims Likely Broad but Specific: Based on typical patent drafting practices, core independent claims probably cover system architecture and processes, with dependent claims culling to particular embodiments.
- Strategic Positioning: Protects Toyota’s technological edge in advanced vehicle control, serving both defensive and offensive IP strategies.
- Landscape Context: Fits within Japan’s aggressive patenting of ADAS and autonomous driving systems, highlighting the competitive importance of comprehensive patent portfolios.
- Navigational Value for Industry Stakeholders: Offers insights into technological focal points and potential infringement risks, allowing stakeholders to align R&D and IP management accordingly.
FAQs
1. What are the primary technological innovations covered by JP5976111?
Toyota’s patent encompasses vehicle control systems integrating sensors, controllers, and communication modules aimed at safety and automation—potentially covering sensor fusion, decision algorithms, and actuation methods.
2. How does JP5976111 compare with similar patents in the automotive sector?
While sharing common themes with other automotive control patents, JP5976111 likely distinguishes itself through specific configurations or processing techniques. A detailed claim analysis would clarify its uniqueness.
3. Are the claims of JP5976111 broad enough to prevent competitors from developing similar systems?
The breadth of claims depends on their phrasing. Broad independent claims can effectively cover core concepts, while narrower claims may leave room for design-arounds.
4. How does JP5976111 influence the patent landscape in Japan’s automotive industry?
It contributes to a dense patent ecosystem, reinforcing Toyota’s innovation position and influencing licensing, collaboration, and litigation strategies within Japan.
5. Is JP5976111 relevant outside Japan?
Patent rights are territorial; however, its technical content may inform global patent filings by Toyota or competitors, especially if counterparts are filed internationally.
References
- Japan Patent Office. JP5976111 – Control system for vehicle.
- Toyota Motor Corporation. Patent filings and strategic disclosures.
- Industry reports on automotive safety and autonomous driving patents.
- Patent landscape analyses specific to Japan’s automotive innovation sector.
