Patents by Inventor Atsushi Ozawa

Atsushi Ozawa 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: 9947972
    Abstract: A battery pack and a method of inspecting a storage state of a secondary battery in the battery pack are provided. In the method of inspecting a storage state of a secondary battery in the battery pack, the battery pack includes (A) a plurality of secondary batteries and (B) a housing, the housing having a plurality of storage sections and containing the secondary batteries in the respective storage sections; a conductive member 30 is attached to an outer surface of each of the secondary batteries made of a non-conductive material; each of the storage sections is provided with at least two detection sections; and depending on a storage state of each of the secondary batteries in each of the storage sections, two detection sections are in contact with the conductive member, or at least one detection section is not in contact with the conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ozawa, Shin Hotta, Kentaro Marutani, Shinichi Uesaka
  • Publication number: 20180088524
    Abstract: A main-body-side electrical contact is provided at a housing of an image forming apparatus. A cartridge including a detection member is detachably attachable to a cartridge support member. A lever provided at the cartridge support member includes a support-member-side electrical contact. The lever is movable between a first position, at which the main-body-side electrical contact is out of electrical contact with the support-member-side electrical contact, and a second position, at which the main-body-side electrical contact is in electrical contact with the support-member-side electrical contact, by driving force transmitted from the detection member in a state where the cartridge is attached to the cartridge support member and the cartridge support member is positioned at an inside position. A detector detects electrical connection between the main-body-side electrical contact and the support-member-side electrical contact when the lever is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventor: Atsushi Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20180073714
    Abstract: A light source unit includes a light emitting element which functions as a light source, a wiring pattern on which the light emitting element is mounted, an electrode pad connected to the wiring pattern, a substrate on which the wiring pattern is formed and the electrode pad is mounted, a power supply body which supplies external power to the electrode pad, and a socket housing which has an engaging portion engaged with a predetermined member and holds the substrate, the light emitting element and the power supply body. The power supply body has a terminal holding portion formed of an insulating resin material and a connection terminal supported by the terminal holding portion and connected to an external power supply. The connection terminal and the electrode pad are connected to each other by a conduction connecting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi OZAWA, Tomoyuki NAKAGAWA, Tsutomu MACHIDA
  • Patent number: 9893539
    Abstract: [Object] To enable charging/discharging amounts of secondary batteries connected in series to be accurately obtained without increasing the costs. [Solving Means] A power storage apparatus includes a battery section in which a plurality of power storage element sections each including at least one power storage element are connected in series, a cell-balancing circuit that are connected in parallel to a plurality of power storage element sections and performs a cell-balancing operation between plurality of power storage element sections, a control unit that controls the cell-balancing current flowing through the cell-balancing circuit, and an entire-current measurement section that measures a current value of an entire current flowing through the entire battery section and a cell-balancing current measurement section that measures a current value of the cell-balancing current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuo Nakamura, Atsushi Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20170373520
    Abstract: A power storage apparatus includes a plurality of power storage modules connected in series and a control apparatus that controls each power storage module. The power storage module includes a battery section, a controller, a communication unit, a first insulator that insulates the controller from the communication unit, and a second insulator having a withstand voltage higher than a withstand voltage of the first insulator. The second insulator is provided between the communication unit of each power storage module and the control apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Naoyuki SUGENO, Koji UMETSU, Noritoshi IMAMURA, Hiroaki Ono, Kazumi SATO, Atsushi OZAWA
  • Publication number: 20170343611
    Abstract: There are provided a secondary battery cell, a battery pack, and an electric power consumption device having a configuration and structure capable of accurately and easily detecting the state of the secondary battery cell in the battery pack. A secondary battery cell 20 of the present invention includes an integrated circuit (an IC chip) 60 having a measuring function to measure a battery status, the battery pack has a plurality of secondary battery cells of the present invention, and the electric power consumption device includes the battery pack of the present invention having the plurality of secondary battery cells of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuo Nakamura, Shinichi Uesaka, Atsushi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9766294
    Abstract: There are provided a secondary battery cell, a battery pack, and an electric power consumption device having a configuration and structure capable of accurately and easily detecting the state of the secondary battery cell in the battery pack. A secondary battery cell 20 of the present invention includes an integrated circuit (an IC chip) 60 having a measuring function to measure a battery status, the battery pack has a plurality of secondary battery cells of the present invention, and the electric power consumption device includes the battery pack of the present invention having the plurality of secondary battery cells of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Nakamura, Shinichi Uesaka, Atsushi Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20170219988
    Abstract: A cleaning roller comprises a shaft including a rotational axis extending in an axial direction and an elastic layer covering the shaft. The elastic layer includes a base covering the shaft and a first helical protrusion protruding from the base and having a first helical ridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Kengo YADA, Yuichi MATSUSHITA, Keigo NAKAJIMA, Hotaka KAKUTANI, Shota IRIYAMA, Atsushi OZAWA
  • Publication number: 20170219989
    Abstract: A cleaning roller includes a shaft and an elastic body. The shaft extends in an axial direction where a center axis of the shaft extends. The shaft defines a radial direction and has a circumferential surface. The elastic body is helically wound about the shaft and defines a helical direction. The elastic body has a widthwise dimension in a widthwise direction orthogonal to the helical direction and to the radial direction. The elastic body has a base end portion extending in the helical direction and a distal end portion extending in the helical direction. The base end portion is in contact with the circumferential surface and fixed thereto. The distal end portion has a sharp edge and is positioned farthest from the circumferential surface in the radial direction. The widthwise dimension is gradually reduced from the base end portion to the distal end portion in the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Kengo YADA, Keigo NAKAJIMA, Yuichi MATSUSHITA, Hotaka KAKUTANI, Shota IRIYAMA, Atsushi OZAWA
  • Patent number: 9651904
    Abstract: A fuser unit of this disclosure includes: an endless belt, a nip member; a belt guide; a first member, which has a contact surface configured to be in contact with the belt guide; and a second member, which includes a guide portion to guide the belt guide in a guide direction, wherein the belt guide comprises: a restraining part, which is arranged to be in contact with an end surface of the endless belt and which is spaced apart from the first member, an inner surface guide, which guides the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt, and a protrusion, which protrudes from the restraining part towards the contact surface of the first member and is arranged to be in contact with the contact surface of the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kei Ishida, Atsushi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9644809
    Abstract: A light source unit includes a socket, a heat dissipation member, a board and a semiconductor light emitting element. The socket has a first thermal conductivity and includes a portion that defines a first side and a second side. The heat dissipation member has a second thermal conductivity being higher than the first thermal conductivity. The board is disposed on the first side. The semiconductor light emitting element is supported by the board. The socket is an injection-molded member. The heat dissipation member includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is disposed on the first side, extends in a first direction, and supports the board. The second portion includes a portion extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, as a result of being subjected to bending processing. A part of the second portion is disposed on the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryujiro Ikuta, Takayuki Otsubo, Atsushi Ozawa, Takuya Serita
  • Patent number: 9634314
    Abstract: A battery pack and a simple construction is provided. The battery pack includes a plurality of secondary batteries, a housing storing the plurality of secondary batteries, and an inspection circuit stored in the housing. The housing includes a main body section and a closing member to close an opening for taking the plurality of secondary batteries in and out of the main body section, and includes a plurality of fixing members for fixing the closing member on the main body section, the plurality of fixing members being made of a conductive material. An attachment state of the fixing members with respect to the closing member and the main body section is monitored by the inspection circuit, and an attachment order of the fixing members with respect to the closing member and the main body section is memorized by the inspection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kentaro Marutani, Atsushi Ozawa, Shin Hotta, Shinichi Uesaka
  • Patent number: 9614257
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery cell capable of reliably preventing an integrated circuit provided to the secondary battery cell from being removed from the secondary battery cell. A secondary battery cell (20) includes an integrated circuit (IC chip) (50) that stores identification information (for example, identification number (ID number) given to the integrated circuit itself). The integrated circuit (50) includes a wiring abnormality detection circuit. When the integrated circuit (50) is removed from the secondary battery cell (20), the wiring abnormality detection circuit detects a wiring abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeki Teramoto, Atsushi Ozawa, Kazuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9606483
    Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a nip member, a heater, a reflecting member, a load receiving member, and a protective member. The endless belt has end portions in the first direction and a middle portion defined between the end portions. The nip member is configured to contact an inner circumferential surface of the endless belt. The heater is disposed inside the endless belt. The reflecting member is entirely disposed on a nip-member side with respect to the heater and is configured to reflect radiant heat emitted from the heater toward the inner circumferential surface. The protective member is disposed between the middle portion of the endless belt and the heater and on a side opposite to the nip member with respect to the heater, and is configured to allow light to pass therethrough. The protective member is fastened to the load receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kei Ishida, Masahito Kajita, Kaoru Suzuki, Atsushi Ozawa, Kenji Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20170067626
    Abstract: A light source module of the present disclosure is provided with a light source, e.g., LED chips and a control circuit to control light emission of the light source. The light source module includes a light source mounting unit to be mounted with the light source, and a control mounting unit to be mounted with the control circuit. The light source mounting unit and the control mounting unit are formed as independent components that can be integrated with each other so that when the light source mounting unit and the control mounting unit are integrated with each other, the light source and the control circuit are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Noriaki Ito, Takuya Serita, Atsushi Ozawa, Tomiharu Hirano
  • Patent number: 9568870
    Abstract: A fuser unit of this disclosure includes: an endless belt; a nip member; a belt guide; a stay; a first member; a second member; and a backup member, wherein the belt guide, which is configured to guide the endless belt, has: a first surface, which faces in a direction from a second end portion towards a first end portion of the endless belt; a second surface, which faces in a direction from the first end portion towards the second end portion of the endless belt; a third surface, which faces in a direction from the stay towards the nip member; a fourth surface, which faces in a direction from the nip member towards the stay; a fifth surface and a sixth surface, which face in the conveyance direction and is arranged to be in contact with the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kei Ishida, Takuji Matsuno, Atsushi Ozawa, Hiroki Mori
  • Patent number: 9548017
    Abstract: A power consumption controller includes (a) a power consumption calculation section which sequentially calculates the power consumption level of a self-luminous display device based on a video signal input from the beginning of each frame up to the time of calculation, (b) a power consumption status determination section which determines whether the calculated power consumption level exceeds a reference value for comparison by constantly comparing the two levels. If this is the case, the same section detects the timing at which the power consumption exceeds the reference value for comparison and (c) a peak brightness control section which controls the peak brightness of the self-luminous display device if the power consumption level exceeds the reference value for comparison based on the detected timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: JOLED Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Tada, Atsushi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9542908
    Abstract: The present invention provides a character highlighting control apparatus including a character pixel extractor and a highlighting degree controller. The character pixel extractor is configured to extract a pixel corresponding to a character part from input image data. The highlighting degree controller is configured to carry out control in such a way that a maximum emission luminance of a display device is linked with input image data, to thereby selectively increase an emission luminance of an extracted pixel on a display screen and avoid increase of an emission luminance of a background part on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ozawa, Mitsuru Tada
  • Patent number: 9524671
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes: an edge processing section extracting an edge component of a display data signal; a display data signal processing section changing the display data signal according to a level conversion signal and adding the edge component thereto; a level conversion signal generating section changing the level conversion signal according to the display data signal and a signal output from the display data signal processing section; and a display section performing a display operation according to the signal output from the display data processing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Ozawa, Katsuhide Uchino
  • Publication number: 20160290621
    Abstract: In one embodiment of a light source unit, the heat-dissipation plate is provided with a first heat-dissipation portion in contact with the substrate, the resin molding part is provided with a plurality of heat-dissipation fins and an engaging portion to be engaged with a predetermined member, and the socket housing is formed by an integral molding of the heat-dissipation plate and the resin molding part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi OZAWA, Takuya SERITA, Yoshimasa MURATA, Ryota NAITO, Takahiro KUMETA