Patents by Inventor Akihito Ono

Akihito Ono 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: 11413875
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is insertable into an attachment portion of a printing device in an insertion direction and attached thereto in an upright posture. The liquid cartridge includes: a housing defining a liquid chamber; a substrate; a contact; and a memory electrically connected to the contact. The substrate in the upright posture defines a sloped surface facing upward and sloping relative to a first imaginary plane extending in the insertion direction and a widthwise direction orthogonal to the insertion direction and a gravitational direction. The contact is formed on the sloped surface. An acute angle formed between the sloped surface and the first imaginary plane is greater than an acute angle formed between the first imaginary plane and a second imaginary plane passing through: a contact point between the contact and a contact of the device; and a lower end of a wall constituting a holder of the attachment portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Fumio Nakazawa, Hiroaki Takahashi, Tetsuro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11351792
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section in an insertion direction includes a casing, and a lever supported by the casing. The lever is pivotable about a pivot axis between a first position and a second position. The lever includes a light-blocking portion configured to block or attenuate light traveling in a widthwise direction crossing the insertion direction and a gravitational direction, and a force-receiving portion positioned closer to a front wall of the casing than the light-blocking portion is to the front wall in the insertion direction. The light-blocking portion is positioned lower at the second position than at the first position. The pivot axis is positioned frontward of the light-blocking portion and rearward of the force-receiving portion in the insertion direction. The lever pivots from the second position to the first position upon application of an external force to the force-receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Kosuke Nukui
  • Publication number: 20220102184
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate; a base plate; and a heater unit heating the ceramic dielectric substrate. The heater unit includes a first heater element. The first heater element has a plurality of sub-zones and a plurality of cooling gas holes. The sub-zones are separated from each other in a circumferential direction. The cooling gas holes are provided in the sub-zones. The cooling gas holes are disposed in the circumferential direction and are provided at positions where the cooling gas holes do not overlap a boundary in the circumferential direction between the sub-zones in a Z-direction perpendicular to the first major surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Akihito ONO, Jumpei UEFUJI
  • Publication number: 20220102182
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate; a base plate; and a heater unit which heats the ceramic dielectric substrate. The heater unit includes first and second heater elements. The second heater element has main zones separated from each other in a radial direction. The first heater element has sub-zones separated from each other. A number of the sub-zones is larger than a number of the main zones. The main zones include a first main zone and a second main zone adjacent to the first main zone with a first boundary therebetween in the radial direction. The sub-zones include a first sub-zone having a first radial end as an end portion thereof in the radial direction. The first sub-zone overlaps at least one of the first main zone and the second main zone. At least a portion of the first radial end does not overlap the first boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Akihito ONO, Jumpei UEFUJI
  • Publication number: 20220102181
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate; a base plate; and a heater unit which heats the ceramic dielectric substrate. The heater unit includes first and second heater elements. The second heater element has a plurality of main zones separated from each other in a radial direction. The first heater element has a plurality of sub-zones separated from each other. A number of the sub-zones is larger than a number of the main zones. The main zones include a first main zone. The first main zone has a main heater line and a first main power feeding portion. The sub-zones include a first sub-zone overlapping the first main zone. The first sub-zone has a central region and an outer peripheral region. The first main power feeding portion is provided at a position where the first main power feeding portion overlaps the central region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Akihito ONO, Jumpei UEFUJI
  • Publication number: 20220102183
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate; a base plate; and a heater unit which heats the ceramic dielectric substrate. The heater unit includes a first heater element. The first heater element has a plurality of sub-zones. The sub-zones include a first sub-zone. The first sub-zone includes a sub-heater line generating heat by allowing a current to flow, a first sub-power feeding portion feeding a power to the sub-heater line, and a second sub-power feeding portion feeding a power to the sub-heater line. The first sub-zone has a central region located centrally in the first sub-zone and an outer peripheral region located outside the central region when viewed along a Z-direction perpendicular to the first major surface. At least one of the first sub-power feeding portion and the second sub-power feeding portion is provided in the central region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Akihito ONO, Jumpei UEFUJI
  • Patent number: 11285727
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a housing having a storage chamber; a liquid passage in communication with the storage chamber; a circuit board; a deformable member; and a movable surface. The liquid passage extends in a first lateral direction from the housing when the housing is in an operational posture. The circuit board is positioned higher than the storage chamber in a vertical direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction and vertically movable relative to the housing. The deformable member is positioned higher than the storage chamber and is lower than the circuit board. The deformable member is deformable vertically relative to the housing. The circuit board is movable vertically in accordance with deformation of the deformable member. The movable surface is positioned further in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction than the circuit board. The movable surface faces upward and is vertically movable relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Nukui, Akihito Ono, Fumio Nakazawa, Tetsuro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20220063286
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge attachment section includes: a cartridge body having a liquid storage chamber, and a liquid supply portion configured to supply the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to an outside. The liquid supply portion includes: a front end face facing frontward, an outer peripheral surface extending rearward from the front end face, and at least one guide provided at the outer peripheral surface. Each of the at least one guide is guided by corresponding at least one projection of the cartridge attachment section during attachment of a liquid supply tube of the cartridge attachment section to the liquid supply portion at a time of attachment of the liquid cartridge to the cartridge attachment section. Each of the at least one guide includes: a first guide portion, and a second guide portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito ONO, Akinari ISHIBE
  • Patent number: 11235579
    Abstract: A system includes: a housing; a cover that is supported by the housing to be movable between a covering position and an opened position; a tank; a reservoir; and a liquid discharging head that is disposed inside the housing and discharges liquid supplied from the tank, wherein the reservoir includes a liquid passage hole; the tank includes a passage tube that extends upward from the tank and is connectable to the liquid passage hole of the reservoir, the cover includes: a first wall that is positioned above the housing at the covering position, and a second wall that extends downward from an edge of the first wall, and when the cover is positioned at the covering position and the reservoir is connected to the tank, an upper end of the reservoir is positioned above a lower end of the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Nukui, Hiroaki Takahashi, Akihito Ono, Takahiro Miyao, Akinari Ishibe
  • Publication number: 20220016897
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber; a first wall; a second wall; and an air communication passage. The first wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid storage chamber. The second wall is positioned upward relative to the first wall. The air communication passage has a first communication hole in communication with the liquid storage chamber and a communication opening open to an atmosphere. The air communication passage includes: an air chamber defined by the first wall and the second wall and in communication with the liquid storage chamber through the first communication hole; a second communication hole formed in the second wall; and a labyrinth path. The labyrinth path is positioned upward relative to the air chamber, and has one end in communication with the second communication hole and another end in communication with the communication opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Naoya OKAZAKI, Akihito ONO, Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroshi TAIRA, Toyonori SASAKI
  • Publication number: 20210394519
    Abstract: A printing-fluid cartridge is inserted into a prescribed insertion space of a cartridge-attachment section in an insertion direction crossing a gravitational direction to be attached thereto in an attached posture. The printing-fluid cartridge includes: a housing including a storage chamber, a supply portion having a supply hole, an electrical interface disposed at an upper surface of the housing, and an interfering surface. The interfering surface is positioned upward of the storage chamber and extends in a widthwise direction of the housing. The interfering surface is positioned downward and frontward relative to the electrical interface and is configured to abut against a projection provided at another insertion space different from the prescribed insertion space of the cartridge-attachment section during an insertion of the printing-fluid cartridge into the another insertion space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Takahiro MIYAO
  • Publication number: 20210370679
    Abstract: A system includes: a housing; a first tank; a second tank; a first reservoir configured to be connected to the first tank; a second reservoir configured to be connected to the second tank; and a liquid discharge head that ejects the liquid supplied from the first tank and the second tank. The housing includes: a front wall; a rear wall facing the front wall; and a housing side contact, the first reservoir and the second reservoir includes: a liquid flow hole; a first outer wall; and a second outer wall facing the first outer wall, the first tank includes a first flow pipe, and the second tank includes a second flow pipe. The system further includes a circuit board that is disposed on the second outer wall and has a reservoir side contact that contacts the housing side contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito ONO, Akinari ISHIBE, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Kosuke NUKUI
  • Publication number: 20210291542
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya OKAZAKI, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Akihito ONO, Mikio HIRANO, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Yutao WANG, Tomohiro KANBE
  • Patent number: 11123992
    Abstract: A system includes: a casing that has a conveyance path and through which a sheet passes; a first tank that is disposed on one side of the conveyance path; a second tank that is disposed on the other side of the conveyance path; a first reservoir that is connectable to the first tank; a second reservoir that is connectable to the second tank; and a liquid ejection head that is disposed inside the casing and is configured to eject liquid supplied from the first tank and the second tank, wherein the first reservoir includes a first liquid flowing hole, the second reservoir includes a second liquid flowing hole, the first tank includes a first flow conduit connectable to the first liquid flowing hole, and the second tank includes a second flow conduit connectable to the second liquid flowing hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao
  • Publication number: 20210237457
    Abstract: A system includes: a housing; a cover that is supported by the housing to be movable between a covering position and an opened position; a tank; a reservoir; and a liquid discharging head that is disposed inside the housing and discharges liquid supplied from the tank, wherein the reservoir includes a liquid passage hole; the tank includes a passage tube that extends upward from the tank and is connectable to the liquid passage hole of the reservoir, the cover includes: a first wall that is positioned above the housing at the covering position, and a second wall that extends downward from an edge of the first wall, and when the cover is positioned at the covering position and the reservoir is connected to the tank, an upper end of the reservoir is positioned above a lower end of the second wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Akihito ONO, Takahiro MIYAO, Akinari ISHIBE
  • Patent number: 11077669
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber; a first wall; a second wall; and an air communication passage. The first wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid storage chamber. The second wall is positioned upward relative to the first wall. The air communication passage has a first communication hole in communication with the liquid storage chamber and a communication opening open to an atmosphere. The air communication passage includes: an air chamber defined by the first wall and the second wall and in communication with the liquid storage chamber through the first communication hole; a second communication hole formed in the second wall; and a labyrinth path. The labyrinth path is positioned upward relative to the air chamber, and has one end in communication with the second communication hole and another end in communication with the communication opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Fumio Nakazawa, Naoya Okazaki, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroshi Taira, Toyonori Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20210229452
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a housing having a storage chamber; a liquid passage in communication with the storage chamber; a circuit board; a deformable member; and a movable surface. The liquid passage extends in a first lateral direction from the housing when the housing is in an operational posture. The circuit board is positioned higher than the storage chamber in a vertical direction perpendicular to the first lateral direction and vertically movable relative to the housing. The deformable member is positioned higher than the storage chamber and is lower than the circuit board. The deformable member is deformable vertically relative to the housing. The circuit board is movable vertically in accordance with deformation of the deformable member. The movable surface is positioned further in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction than the circuit board. The movable surface faces upward and is vertically movable relative to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke NUKUI, Akihito ONO, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 11072184
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section including a casing, a movable member, and an urging member. The casing includes a liquid chamber storing liquid therein; a liquid passage extending in a first direction in an upright posture, and a top surface. The top surface faces upward in the upright posture and formed with a recess. The movable member has a light blocking portion. The light blocking portion in the upright posture is configured to move between a first position and a second position. At least a part of the light blocking portion in the first position is positioned above the top surface in the upright posture. The urging member is configured to urge the movable member toward the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Hiroaki Takahashi, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 11065880
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge attachment section includes: a cartridge body having a liquid storage chamber, and a liquid supply portion configured to supply the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to an outside. The liquid supply portion includes: a front end face facing frontward, an outer peripheral surface extending rearward from the front end face, and at least one guide provided at the outer peripheral surface. Each of the at least one guide is guided by corresponding at least one projection of the cartridge attachment section during attachment of a liquid supply tube of the cartridge attachment section to the liquid supply portion at a time of attachment of the liquid cartridge to the cartridge attachment section. Each of the at least one guide includes: a first guide portion, and a second guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Ono, Akinari Ishibe
  • Patent number: 11039576
    Abstract: To provide a vascular sap measurement sensor in which a flow channel that receives incoming flow of vascular sap is unlikely to be blocked by tissues of a plant. A vascular sap measurement sensor 1 includes: a trapping probe 20 for trapping vascular sap; and a support 10 that supports the trapping probe 20. A trapping flow channel 21 that receives incoming flow of the vascular sap is formed in the trapping probe 20. The trapping flow channel 21 has an inlet opening 24 formed on a side surface of the trapping probe 20. This makes it unlikely that the trapping flow channel 21 will be blocked by tissues of a plant when sticking the trapping probe 20 into the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION KAGAWA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fusao Shimokawa, Akihito Ono, Hidekuni Takao, Kyohei Terao, Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Ikuo Kataoka