Patents by Inventor Hirofumi Otsuka

Hirofumi Otsuka 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: 8646214
    Abstract: A weather strip 10 has a trim portion 20 and a hollow seal portion 40. The trim portion 20 is made up of an external sidewall 21, a bottom wall 23 and an internal sidewall 22 to thereby be given a substantially U-shaped cross section. A first flange holding lip 24 is formed on an interior surface of either of the external sidewall 21 and the internal sidewall 22 so as to be positioned on an opening side of the trim portion 20, a second flange holding lip 25 is formed on the interior surface of the same sidewall so as to be positioned on a bottom wall side of the trim portion 20, and opposite flange holding lips 26, 27 are formed on an interior surface of the other of the external sidewall 21 and the internal sidewall 22 so as to be positioned between the first flange holding lip 24 and the second flange holding lip 25 while extending therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Otsuka, Masatoshi Hotta, Hideaki Minoura
  • Patent number: 8533999
    Abstract: A weather strip is provided in which the trim portion does not have an insert member embedded, a notch or a thin wall portions are formed in a portion near the bottom wall of the vehicle exterior sidewall and the vehicle interior sidewall, a thick wall portion is formed in the further front end than the thin wall portion, and both the front ends are inclined so as to approach each other. Two of each of flange holding lips are formed on each of the inner surfaces of both sidewalls; and the angle at which the flange holding lips of the opening side are projected is formed larger than the angle of the flange holding lips of the bottom wall side; the front ends of the flange holding lips of the opening side are formed so as to be contact with or close to each other; the front ends of the flange holding lips 25 and 27 of the bottom wall side are linearly formed to have a gap in the width direction or in a direction orthogonal to the width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Otsuka, Masatoshi Hotta
  • Publication number: 20130167664
    Abstract: A pedal operation amount detecting device that is provided in an operating pedal apparatus including a transmitting member having a pedal arm of an operating pedal that is arranged so as to be pivotable about a support axis and that is depressed, and an output member to which a depression force is transmitted from the transmitting member and to which a reaction force corresponding to the depression force is applied, the pedal operation amount detecting device including a sensor member that is arranged on a load transmission path at a position offset from the transmitting member in a direction parallel to the support axis and that is deformed by the depression force and the reaction force, and the pedal operation amount detecting device electrically detecting a deformation of the sensor member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicants: TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD., MINEBEA CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noboru Fujiwara, Hiroshi Isono, Hirofumi Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20120255372
    Abstract: An operation amount detection apparatus includes a transmission member that transmits a load corresponding to an operation amount between a shaft portion and an operation target member through connecting portions that connect a first support portion supported by the operation target member and a second support portion supported by the shaft portion, and a detection device that detects an operation amount based on an amount of deformation of the connecting portions. A plurality of the connecting portions are provided in parallel between the first support portion and the second support portion, and deflect due to transmission of a load so that the first support portion and the second support are relatively displaced in a direction of a linear motion. The respective connecting portions are mutually opposed in a direction perpendicular to a lengthwise direction of the shaft portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicants: Minebea Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isono, Noboru Fujiwara, Hirofumi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 8239355
    Abstract: A map data update method for updating nationwide updated version map data using route-specific update data is disclosed. This method has a step of creating route-specific update data, comprising update data for all routes which have been newly opened since the time of release of the nationwide updated version map data; a step of storing a plurality of route-specific update data sets with different creation dates; a step of, when updating the nationwide updated version map data of the time of release stored in a navigation apparatus in use of a prescribed first route-specific update data which has been stored, storing pre-update map files necessary to restore the nationwide updated version map data; and a step of using the first route-specific update data to update the nationwide updated version map data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Alpine Electronics, Inc., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Mobilemedia Brain Association, Inc.
    Inventors: Minoru Sekine, Masaaki Ohira, Hirofumi Otsuka, Hitoshi Konishi, Masayuki Arai, Toshihide Yofu, Yuji Yokota
  • Publication number: 20120073209
    Abstract: A weather strip having an insert and exhibiting a large holding force against a flange, includes a trim portion and a sealing portion. The trim portion has an outer holding lip formed to extend from an interior surface of an outer side wall, and an inner holding lip formed to extend from an interior surface of an inner side wall, and the insert is embedded in the trim portion. The insert is formed from a band-shaped metallic plate such that a large number of insert pieces, each having a rectangular configuration, extend in a width direction of the band-shaped metallic plate, and are joined in the vicinity of ends of the insert pieces with joining parts in a longitudinal direction of the band-shaped metallic plate into a ladder-shaped configuration. Slits are formed between adjacent insert pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Toyoda Gosei Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Otsuka, Masatoshi Hotta
  • Publication number: 20110072729
    Abstract: A weather strip is provided in which the trim portion does not have an insert member embedded, a notch or a thin wall portions are formed in a portion near the bottom wall of the vehicle exterior sidewall and the vehicle interior sidewall, a thick wall portion is formed in the further front end than the thin wall portion, and both the front ends are inclined so as to approach each other. Two of each of flange holding lips are formed on each of the inner surfaces of both sidewalls; and the angle at which the flange holding lips of the opening side are projected is formed larger than the angle of the flange holding lips of the bottom wall side; the front ends of the flange holding lips of the opening side are formed so as to be contact with or close to each other; the front ends of the flange holding lips 25 and 27 of the bottom wall side are linearly formed to have a gap in the width direction or in a direction orthogonal to the width direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Otsuka, Masatoshi Hotta
  • Publication number: 20100242392
    Abstract: A weather strip 10 has a trim portion 20 and a hollow seal portion 40. The trim portion 20 is made up of an external sidewall 21, a bottom wall 23 and an internal sidewall 22 to thereby be given a substantially U-shaped cross section. A first flange holding lip 24 is formed on an interior surface of either of the external sidewall 21 and the internal sidewall 22 so as to be positioned on an opening side of the trim portion 20, a second flange holding lip 25 is formed on the interior surface of the same sidewall so as to be positioned on a bottom wall side of the trim portion 20, and opposite flange holding lips 26, 27 are formed on an interior surface of the other of the external sidewall 21 and the internal sidewall 22 so as to be positioned between the first flange holding lip 24 and the second flange holding lip 25 while extending therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Otsuka, Masatoshi Hotta, Hideaki Minoura
  • Publication number: 20090266000
    Abstract: A weather strip for a motor vehicle, which is capable of meeting the need for the provision of a lightweight motor vehicle, and exhibiting a great holding force against a flange of a vehicle body. The weather strip includes a trim portion having a generally U-shaped cross-section and a tubular seal portion. The trim portion includes an outer side wall, a bottom wall and an inner side wall, flange holding lips extend in an interior of the trim portion, and the tubular seal portion is formed near a center of an exterior surface of the bottom wall via a neck portion. An exterior surface of a corner portion between the bottom wall and the outer side wall, and an exterior surface of a corner portion between the bottom wall and the inner side wall are respectively formed to have an angle of 90° through 100°, angular parts of both the corner portions are formed with a radius of curvature of 0.2 mm through 2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Minoura, Masatoshi Hotta, Hirofumi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7555960
    Abstract: An occupant load sensor of a seat for a vehicle includes a strain member, a connecting member, first and second strain gauge plates, an upper bracket, an amplifier substrate, and an FPC substrate. The strain gauge plates are attached to a surface of the strain member and respectively arranged between a central portion and both end portions of the strain member. Each strain gauge plate includes two strain detecting elements forming a half bridge circuit of a Wheatstone bridge circuit. The FPC substrate is connected to the amplifier substrate and to the strain gauge plates between the both end portions and the central portion of the strain member. Further, the FPC substrate includes a plurality of wiring patterns. The Wheatstone bridge circuit is formed with the plurality of wiring patterns and the half bridge circuit formed at each strain gauge plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Muneto Inayoshi, Mutsuro Aoyama, Satoshi Sato, Hirofumi Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20080127752
    Abstract: An occupant load sensor of a seat for a vehicle includes a strain member, a connecting member, first and second strain gauge plates, an upper bracket, an amplifier substrate, and an FPC substrate. The strain gauge plates are attached to a surface of the strain member and respectively arranged between a central portion and both end portions of the strain member. Each strain gauge plate includes two strain detecting elements forming a half bridge circuit of a Wheatstone bridge circuit. The FPC substrate is connected to the amplifier substrate and to the strain gauge plates between the both end portions and the central portion of the strain member. Further, the FPC substrate includes a plurality of wiring patterns. The Wheatstone bridge circuit is formed with the plurality of wiring patterns and the half bridge circuit formed at each strain gauge plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, MINEBEA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satohiko Nakano, Muneto Inayoshi, Mutsuro Aoyama, Satoshi Sato, Hirofumi Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20070143014
    Abstract: A map data update method for updating nationwide updated version map data using route-specific update data is disclosed. This method has a step of creating route-specific update data, comprising update data for all routes which have been newly opened since the time of release of the nationwide updated version map data; a step of storing a plurality of route-specific update data sets with different creation dates; a step of, when updating the nationwide updated version map data of the time of release stored in a navigation apparatus in use of a prescribed first route-specific update data which has been stored, storing pre-update map files necessary to restore the nationwide updated version map data; and a step of using the first route-specific update data to update the nationwide updated version map data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Minoru Sekine, Masaaki Ohira, Hirofumi Otsuka, Hitoshi Konishi, Masayuki Arai, Toshihide Yofu, Yuji Yokota
  • Patent number: 6626062
    Abstract: Operation switches 9 are mounted on a steering wheel for operating control apparatuses installed in an automotive vehicle. A supporting body 8 is provided which is disposed inwardly of a wheel rim 2 and substantially concentrically with the wheel rim 2 and having a cross-section partially constituted by an arc 15. The operation switches 9 are disposed on the supporting body 8 and are capable of moving in a circumferential direction of the supporting body 8. By using the operation switches 9 capable of moving in the circumferential direction of the supporting body 8, the direction in which the switches move becomes radial relative to the steering wheel, whereby a number of operation switches can be disposed on the steering wheel in a collective fashion. The direction in which a single switch is operated becomes two ways, and therefore two control functions for a control apparatus can be controlled with a single switch, thus making it possible to make an individual switch multifunctional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazumiki Yoshitake, Hirofumi Otsuka, Hiroyuki Kamiya
  • Patent number: 4637264
    Abstract: An optical torque detecting apparatus for a rotating shaft of which torsional torque is to be detected comprising a pair of rotary plates disposed to face each other connected to the shaft with a predetermined interval between the positions where each is connected to the shaft, each plate having a radial optical grid thereon so that a Moire fringe pattern may be created in accordance with a change of relative turning between the plates caused by torsion of the shaft and a device detecting a shift of the Moire fringe pattern between radially inner and outer sections of the optical grids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuneo Takahashi, Hirofumi Otsuka