Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Agata

Hiroaki Agata 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: 10936019
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus capable of preventing keytops or a pointing stick from protruding from a chassis top surface when not being in use is disclosed. The electronic apparatus includes a set of keytops each movable up and down between a first position to which the keytop ascends by a biasing force of a rubber dome and a second position to which the keytop descends against the biasing force; a set of drive members each extend along the left-right direction, each movable in the left-right direction relative to the keytops; a link member connecting adjacent drive members to enable coordinated operation; and a drive mechanism that moves one of the drive members connected by the link member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Shibayama, Hiroaki Agata, Eiji Shinohara, Hiroyuki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 10908643
    Abstract: A portable information device has a configuration in which a body chassis and a display chassis are turnably coupled by hinge mechanisms. The portable information device is provided with an operation portion operable from the outside and a power transmission portion provided between the operation portion and the hinge mechanism and transmitting an operating force to the operation portion to the hinge mechanisms to turn the body chassis and the display chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Shibayama, Eiji Shinohara, Hiroaki Agata
  • Publication number: 20200225702
    Abstract: A portable information device has a configuration in which a body chassis and a display chassis are turnably coupled by hinge mechanisms. The portable information device is provided with an operation portion operable from the outside and a power transmission portion provided between the operation portion and the hinge mechanism and transmitting an operating force to the operation portion to the hinge mechanisms to turn the body chassis and the display chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Shibayama, Eiji Shinohara, Hiroaki Agata
  • Publication number: 20200192436
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus capable of preventing keytops or a pointing stick from protruding from a chassis top surface when not being in use is disclosed. The electronic apparatus includes a set of keytops each movable up and down between a first position to which the keytop ascends by a biasing force of a rubber dome and a second position to which the keytop descends against the biasing force; a set of drive members each extend along the left-right direction, each movable in the left-right direction relative to the keytops; a link member connecting adjacent drive members to enable coordinated operation; and a drive mechanism that moves one of the drive members connected by the link member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Shibayama, Hiroaki Agata, Eiji Shinohara, Hiroyuki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 10656678
    Abstract: A portable information device has a configuration in which a body chassis and a display chassis are turnably coupled by hinge mechanisms. The portable information device is provided with an operation portion operable from the outside and a power transmission portion provided between the operation portion and the hinge mechanism and transmitting an operating force to the operation portion to the hinge mechanisms to turn the body chassis and the display chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Shibayama, Eiji Shinohara, Hiroaki Agata
  • Publication number: 20200125145
    Abstract: The chassis member includes multiple plate-like fiber-reinforced resin members and a frame part made of material including at least resin. The frame part is bonded to respective outer peripheral end surfaces of the fiber-reinforced resin members and joins the multiple fiber-reinforced resin members together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Fumitake Mizoguchi, Hiroaki Agata, Tetsuya Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20200097046
    Abstract: A portable information device has a configuration in which a body chassis and a display chassis are turnably coupled by hinge mechanisms. The portable information device is provided with an operation portion operable from the outside and a power transmission portion provided between the operation portion and the hinge mechanism and transmitting an operating force to the operation portion to the hinge mechanisms to turn the body chassis and the display chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2018
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Shibayama, Eiji Shinohara, Hiroaki Agata
  • Patent number: 10452103
    Abstract: A docking device is provided. The docking device includes an engaging member that projects from an upper surface of a device chassis, which has a hook portion for engaging with and disengage from an engaging hole of a portable information apparatus, and which is movable between an engagement position at which the hook portion engages with the engaging hole and a disengagement position at which the engagement of the hook portion with the engaging hole is released; and a restricting member that is movable between a retraction position at which the engaging member is allowed to move from the engagement position to the disengagement position and a restriction position at which the movement of the engaging member from the engagement position to the disengagement position is restricted by coming in contact with the engaging member at a rear surface of the hook portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Kazuya Tatsuno, Hiroaki Agata, Yoshiyuki Shibayama, Tetsuo Ogawa, Toshihiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 10420230
    Abstract: A support can be easily attached to and is less likely to separate from an opening of a chassis of an electronic device. The support has a first elastic member having a recessed portion and configured to be fitted into the opening so that an opening surface of the recessed portion is directed to an inside of the chassis, and a second member having a protruding portion configured to be fitted into the recessed portion of the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Uchiyama, Shigehiro Horiuchi, Shigeki Mori, Tetsuya Ohtani, Hiroaki Agata
  • Patent number: 10401925
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus having a cooling device that can reduce size and cost thereof while maintaining sufficient cooling performance of cooling a portable information apparatus is disclosed. The electronic apparatus includes a portable information apparatus and a cooling device. The portable information apparatus includes a heat-dissipation heat sink thermally connected to a heating body. The cooling device includes a cooling unit for absorbing heat from the heating body. The cooling unit includes a heat-receiving heat sink that is thermally connected to a heat-dissipation heat sink when the portable information apparatus is connected to the cooling device, and a radiator that dissipates heat absorbed in the heat-receiving heat sink to outside. The radiator is disposed on an exhaust path from an air outlet of the portable information apparatus while the portable information apparatus is connected to the cooling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Akinori Uchino, Hiroaki Agata, Takuroh Kamimura, Tomoaki Kosugi
  • Publication number: 20190094907
    Abstract: A docking device is provided. The docking device includes an engaging member that projects from an upper surface of a device chassis, which has a hook portion for engaging with and disengage from an engaging hole of a portable information apparatus, and which is movable between an engagement position at which the hook portion engages with the engaging hole and a disengagement position at which the engagement of the hook portion with the engaging hole is released; and a restricting member that is movable between a retraction position at which the engaging member is allowed to move from the engagement position to the disengagement position and a restriction position at which the movement of the engaging member from the engagement position to the disengagement position is restricted by coming in contact with the engaging member at a rear surface of the hook portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: KAZUYA TATSUNO, HIROAKI AGATA, YOSHIYUKI SHIBAYAMA, TETSUO OGAWA, TOSHIHIRO INOUE
  • Patent number: 10146266
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic apparatus for reducing the load on mechanism parts and thickness, including a main unit chassis having keytops; a display chassis pivotably connected with the main unit chassis by hinge mechanisms; rubber domes urging the keytops in a direction to cause the keytops to project from an upper surface; an X slider sliding in the main unit chassis in synchronization with the pivoting movements of the main unit chassis and the display chassis; a key depressing mechanism and a link mechanism, causing the keytops to retract from the upper surface when the X slider slides in one direction, and causing the keytops to project from the upper surface when the X slider slides in the opposite direction; and an auxiliary elastic member urging the X slider in a direction to cause the X slider to slide in the one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Shibayama, Hiroaki Agata, Shigeki Mori, Kimio Kumada, Takane Fujino
  • Patent number: 9934916
    Abstract: A keyboard device for a portable computer is disclosed. The portable computer includes a main body chassis and a display chassis. The main body chassis contains the keyboard device having multiple keycaps elastically supported to be moved up and down. Coupled to the main body chassis via a hinge, the display chassis contains a display. The main body chassis also includes a key depressing mechanism having a rotating shaft member provided along each of the keycaps and a pressing piece projecting from the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft member to the side of the keycap to allow a receiving part provided in the keycap to be depressed downward. The rotating shaft member rotates about the axis to cause the pressing piece to push down the receiving part and, in turn, pushing down and keeping the keycap in a depressed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Fumio Tamura, Hiroaki Agata, Takane Fujino, Eiji Shinohara
  • Patent number: 9921621
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus having a detachable cooling device is disclosed. The electronic apparatus includes a portable information device having a heating body contained therein. The portable information device also includes a heat sink disposed on a bottom surface of the portable information device and thermally connected to the heating body. The detachable cooling device includes a mount surface on which the bottom surface of the portable information device is mounted, a heat-receiving heat sink disposed on the mount surface and thermally connected to the heat sink, and an up-and-down mechanism that moves the heat-receiving heat sink towards the heat sink and causes the heat-receiving heat sink to contact the heat sink when the portable information device is mounted on the mount surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Shibayama, Hiroaki Agata, Eiji Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20180074557
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic apparatus for reducing the load on mechanism parts and thickness, including a main unit chassis having keytops; a display chassis pivotably connected with the main unit chassis by hinge mechanisms; rubber domes urging the keytops in a direction to cause the keytops to project from an upper surface; an X slider sliding in the main unit chassis in synchronization with the pivoting movements of the main unit chassis and the display chassis; a key depressing mechanism and a link mechanism, causing the keytops to retract from the upper surface when the X slider slides in one direction, and causing the keytops to project from the upper surface when the X slider slides in the opposite direction; and an auxiliary elastic member urging the X slider in a direction to cause the X slider to slide in the one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Shibayama, Hiroaki Agata, Shigeki Mori, Kimio Kumada, Takane Fujino
  • Publication number: 20180077809
    Abstract: The present invention provides a support which can be easily attached to and is less likely to separate from an opening of a chassis of an electronic device. The support has a first elastic member having a recessed portion and configured to be fitted into the opening so that an opening surface of the recessed portion is directed to an inside of the chassis, and a second member having a protruding portion configured to be fitted into the recessed portion of the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Uchiyama, Shigehiro Horiuchi, Shigeki Mori, Tetsuya Ohtani, Hiroaki Agata
  • Patent number: 9904335
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus capable of achieving sufficient heat transfer efficiency between a portable information device and a cooling device while preventing a heating member from being exposed at an outer surface of the portable information device is disclosed. The portable information device includes a heating body and a cooling device. The cooling device is detachably connected to the portable information device, and is configured to absorb heat from the heating body. The portable information device includes a heat-dissipation heat sink thermally connected to the heating body, and multiple apparatus shutter members covering the heat-dissipation heat sink so that the heat-dissipation heat sink can be freely covered and uncovered. The cooling device includes a shutter driving mechanism that opens the apparatus shutter members when the portable information device is connected to the cooling device, and a heat-receiving heat sink thermally connected to the heat-dissipation heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Takuroh Kamimura, Hiroaki Agata, Akinori Uchino, Tomoaki Kosugi, Yoshiyuki Shibayama, Eiji Shinohara
  • Patent number: 9898043
    Abstract: An electronic device having a portable information equipment and an expansion unit is disclosed. The portable information equipment can be a tablet PC and the expansion unit is configured to expand a function of the tablet PC. The expansion unit includes an attachment part having a hook configured to be movable in an engagement direction from a non-engagement position to an engagement position, in the non-engagement position. The hook can be inserted into an engagement hole disposed at an attached part of the tablet PC in the engagement position. The hook can be further movable in a pulling direction of pulling the tablet PC towards the expansion unit 14, with the pulling direction being orthogonal to the engagement direction. A lever is utilized to move the hook in the engagement direction and in the pulling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Hiroaki Agata, Kazuo Nakada, Eiji Shinohara, Hideaki Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20170177030
    Abstract: An electronic device having a portable information equipment and an expansion unit is disclosed. The portable information equipment can be a tablet PC and the expansion unit is configured to expand a function of the tablet PC. The expansion unit includes an attachment part having a hook configured to be movable in an engagement direction from a non-engagement position to an engagement position, in the non-engagement position. The hook can be inserted into an engagement hole disposed at an attached part of the tablet PC in the engagement position. The hook can be further movable in a pulling direction of pulling the tablet PC towards the expansion unit 14, with the pulling direction being orthogonal to the engagement direction. A lever is utilized to move the hook in the engagement direction and in the pulling direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: HIROAKI AGATA, KAZUO NAKADA, EIJI SHINOHARA, HIDEAKI HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20170160772
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus capable of achieving sufficient heat transfer efficiency between a portable information device and a cooling device while preventing a heating member from being exposed at an outer surface of the portable information device is disclosed. The portable information device includes a heating body and a cooling device. The cooling device is detachably connected to the portable information device, and is configured to absorb heat from the heating body. The portable information device includes a heat-dissipation heat sink thermally connected to the heating body, and multiple apparatus shutter members covering the heat-dissipation heat sink so that the heat-dissipation heat sink can be freely covered and uncovered. The cooling device includes a shutter driving mechanism that opens the apparatus shutter members when the portable information device is connected to the cooling device, and a heat-receiving heat sink thermally connected to the heat-dissipation heat sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: TAKUROH KAMIMURA, HIROAKI AGATA, AKINORI UCHINO, TOMOAKI KOSUGI, YOSHIYUKI SHIBAYAMA, EIJI SHINOHARA