Patents by Inventor Akira Kato

Akira Kato 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).

  • Regulating alkaloids
    Patent number: 9994860
    Abstract: MPO1 and MPO2 can be regulated for either decreasing or increasing alkaloid levels in plants, in particular in Nicotiana plants. In particular, suppressing or overexpressing one or more of MPO1 and MPO2 may be used to decrease or increase nicotine and nicotinic alkaloid levels in tobacco plants. Suppression or overexpression of one or more of MPO1 and MPO2 may be used in combination with modification of expression of other genes encoding enzymes on the nicotinic alkaloid biosynthetic pathway such as A622, NBB1, PMT, and QPT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Akira Kato
  • REDUCING LEVELS OF NICOTINIC ALKALOIDS IN PLANTS
    Publication number: 20180135064
    Abstract: Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi HASHIMOTO, Akira Kato
  • REDUCING LEVELS OF NICOTINIC ALKALOIDS IN PLANTS
    Publication number: 20180135065
    Abstract: Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi HASHIMOTO, Akira Kato
  • Exhaust gas purification apparatus for internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 9970343
    Abstract: The production efficiency of ammonia is more raised while avoiding the necessity for a user to supply water for himself/herself in order to produce the ammonia. An exhaust gas purification apparatus comprises a catalyst which purifies an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine by using ammonia; and an ammonia supplier which supplies the ammonia to the catalyst; wherein the ammonia supplier includes an ammonia producer which produces the ammonia from nitrogen and water; a nitrogen supplier which separates the nitrogen from air and which supplies the nitrogen to the ammonia producer; and a water supplier which separates the water from the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine and which supplies the water to the ammonia producer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira Kato
  • Exhaust gas purification apparatus of internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 9951670
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine, includes an oxygen ion conductor which can conduct oxygen ions when a voltage is applied to the conductor and a NOx absorption/discharge device. The NOx absorption/discharge device is formed by a first electrode provided on a first surface of the oxygen ion conductor and a second electrode including silver and provided on a second surface of the oxygen ion conductor opposite to the first surface across the oxygen ion conductor. The apparatus applies a voltage between the first and second electrodes such that oxygen ions move through the oxygen ion conductor from the first electrode toward the second electrode when satisfied is a purification condition that nitrogen oxide discharged from the NOx absorption/discharge device can be purified in the exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Kato, Yoshiyuki Sakamoto, Yasutaka Nagai
  • Timepiece
    Patent number: 9904252
    Abstract: Whether a bright state or a dark state is established is determined each time a motor is driven one step, based on a presence or absence of a passing of light through a detection hole disposed in a detection wheel that rotates associated with rotations of a hand wheel coupled with the motor. A switching position X is identified at which the dark state is switched to the bright state when the dark state is determined and thereafter the bright state is determined. A position one step after the identified switching position X is set to be a reference position X+1 of the hand wheel. The reference positions X+1 and X?1 can thereby be set after a driving mechanism is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Kato, Kazuya Imamura, Shoichiro Morita, Yuji Yano
  • Autonomous driving vehicle system
    Patent number: 9896101
    Abstract: An autonomous driving vehicle system includes a travel plan generation unit configured to generate a travel plan and a control width of a target control value, a travel control unit configured to calculate an instruction control value, and a behavior determination unit configured to determine whether or not a behavior change which is opposite to the most recent behavior change is performed. In a case where it is determined that the opposite behavior change is performed, the travel control unit is configured to calculate the instruction control value such that a behavior change amount of the most recent behavior change is smaller and becomes in the restricted vehicle state corresponding to the state within the control width compared to the case where the current vehicle state is caused to follow the target vehicle state when it is determined that the opposite behavior change is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira Kato
  • VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING INERTIA OPERATION OF VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20180043892
    Abstract: A vehicle control device turns off a clutch to put a vehicle into an inertia operation state in response to a predetermined executing condition being met, and turns on the clutch to terminate the inertia operation state in response to a predetermined terminating condition being met during the inertia operation. The vehicle control device includes a deceleration degree calculating device, a determination device, and an operation control device. The deceleration degree calculating device calculates an actual deceleration degree. The determination device determines whether the actual deceleration degree is greater than a threshold value defined on the basis of a deceleration degree of the vehicle in an accelerator-off and clutch-on state. The operation control device terminates or maintains the inertia operation depending on a condition of the actual deceleration degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru MAEDA, Akira KATO
  • INFORMATION OUTPUT DEVICE, CAMERA, INFORMATION OUTPUT SYSTEM, INFORMATION OUTPUT METHOD, AND PROGRAM
    Publication number: 20180025175
    Abstract: As information output device includes: a first output unit that outputs acquired information acquired by a sensor; and a second output unit that converts personal information included in the acquired information into attribute information from which identification of an individual is impossible, and outputs the attribute information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventor: Akira KATO
  • Reducing levels of nicotinic alkaloids in plants
    Patent number: 9856487
    Abstract: Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Akira Kato
  • Coil structure, transformer, and power converter
    Patent number: 9852841
    Abstract: A coil structure includes a conductor band and a first insulating plate. The conductor band turns around a coil axis in such a manner that the conductor band folds at a plurality of portions which form a plurality of folded portions. The first insulating plate includes a first edge portion which abuts along at least one of the plurality of folded portions. At least part of the conductor band is wound around the first insulating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Sakiyama, Akira Kato, Takehiko Yamakawa, Eiji Takahashi
  • Reducing levels of nicotinic alkaloids in plants
    Patent number: 9834780
    Abstract: Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Akira Kato
  • ROTARY MACHINE INCLUDING ROTOR, STATOR, AND INSERTION MEMBER
    Publication number: 20170338700
    Abstract: A rotary machine includes a rotor, a stator, a first hole and a second hole that are provided in at least one selected from the group consisting of the rotor and the stator, and a first insertion member including a first protrusion inserted into the first hole, a second protrusion inserted into the second hole, and a first connection connecting the first protrusion and the second protrusion to each other. A distance between the first hole and the second hole differs from a length of the first connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: AKIRA KATO, KAZUYUKI SAKIYAMA, TAKEHIKO YAMAKAWA
  • IMAGE HEATING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170285543
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a heater including a substrate and a heat generating element; a supporting member; a high heat-conductive member. The recording material on which an image is formed is heated by heat from the heater. The supporting member has a bottom region, where the supporting member supports the heater, including a first region where the supporting member contacts the high heat-conductive member so as to apply pressure between the heater and the high heat-conductive member and including a second region where the supporting member is recessed from the high heat-conductive member relative to the first region. At least a part of the first region overlaps, with respect to a movement direction of the recording material, with a region where the heat generating element is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shimura, Hideaki Yonekubo, Hisashi Nakahara, Akira Kato, Noriaki Tanaka, Hideyuki Matsubara, Yuji Fujiwara
  • BOARD INSPECTION APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170289416
    Abstract: A board inspection apparatus is disclosed, which includes a surface-side irradiator irradiating a surface of each inspection area of a board, a surface-side camera taking a surface-side image of the surface, a rear face-side irradiator irradiating a rear face of each inspection area, a rear face-side camera taking a rear face-side image of the rear face, and a controller moving the surface-side irradiator and the surface-side camera to a position corresponding to the surface of each inspection area, moving the rear face-side irradiator and the rear face-side camera to a position corresponding to the rear face of each inspection area, and inspecting the surface and the rear face of each inspection area based on the surface-side image and the rear face-side image, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Umemura, Akira Kato, Tsuyoshi Ohyama, Norihiko Sakaida
  • BOARD INSPECTION APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170276617
    Abstract: A board inspection apparatus is disclosed, which includes one surface-side irradiator that irradiates a first area on a surface side of a board with first light, a surface-side camera that takes an image of the first area, one rear face-side irradiator that irradiates a second area on a rear face side of the board with second light, a rear face-side camera that takes an image of the second area; and a controller that inspects the first area based on image data obtained from the surface-side camera and the second area based on image data obtained from the rear face-side camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: CKD Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Umemura, Akira Kato, Tsuyoshi Ohyama, Norihiko Sakaida
  • Image heating device for positioning a high thermal conductive member
    Patent number: 9772586
    Abstract: An image heating device includes, a moving member configured to move while contacting a recording material at one surface of the moving member, a backup member configured to contact the other surface of the moving member, a holding member configured to hold the backup member, a nip portion forming member contacting the one surface of the moving member, and configured to form a nip portion in corporation with the backup member via the moving member, and a high thermal conductive member held between the holding member and the backup member, wherein the recording material on which an image has been formed is heated by heat received from the moving member while being nipped and conveyed at the nip portion, and wherein the holding member includes a recessed portion configured not to apply pressure to the high thermal conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideyuki Matsubara, Hideaki Yonekubo, Hisashi Nakahara, Akira Kato, Noriaki Tanaka, Yasuhiro Shimura, Yuji Fujiwara
  • Semiconductor Device
    Publication number: 20170229469
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory array includes a first nonvolatile memory cell having a first charge storage layer and a first gate electrode and a second nonvolatile memory cell, adjacent to the first memory cell in a first direction, having a second charge storage layer and a second gate electrode. The first and second electrodes extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first electrode has a first contact section extending toward the second electrode in the first direction, and the second electrode has a second contact section extending toward the first electrode in the first direction. The first and second contact positions are shifted in the second direction, respectively, and the first electrode and the first contact section are electrically separated from the second electrode and the second contact section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Tsutomu OKAZAKI, Daisuke OKADA, Kyoya NITTA, Toshihiro TANAKA, Akira KATO, Toshikazu MATSUI, Yasushi ISHII, Digh HISAMOTO, Kan YASUI
  • Image heating apparatus
    Patent number: 9715200
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a heater including a substrate and a heat generating element; a supporting member; a high heat-conductive member. The recording material on which an image is formed is heated by heat from the heater. The supporting member has a bottom region, where the supporting member supports the heater, including a first region where the supporting member contacts the high heat-conductive member so as to apply pressure between the heater and the high heat-conductive member and including a second region where the supporting member is recessed from the high heat-conductive member relative to the first region. At least a part of the first region overlaps, with respect to a movement direction of the recording material, with a region where the heat generating element is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shimura, Hideaki Yonekubo, Hisashi Nakahara, Akira Kato, Noriaki Tanaka, Hideyuki Matsubara, Yuji Fujiwara
  • INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
    Publication number: 20170205326
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an ECU, an A/F sensor being active at a first temperature lower than a PM combustion temperature and set in advance, and a heater to heat the A/F sensor to a second temperature equal to or higher than the PM combustion temperature and set in advance. The ECU detects PM based on a difference between an output value of the A/F sensor at the first temperature and an output value of the A/F sensor at the second temperature. The ECU may perform determining that a PM accumulation amount is smaller than a reference amount when the output value is higher than a threshold value, and that the PM accumulation amount is equal to or larger than the reference amount when the output value is a value equal to or smaller than the threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira KATO, Go HAYASHITA