Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Harimoto

Hiroshi Harimoto 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).

  • Publication number: 20150220105
    Abstract: A reaction force generator includes: a base member mounted on a supporter supporting an operating member pivotably; a dome member protruding from the base member; and a top member provided on a protruding-side end of the dome member to be pressed by the operating member toward the base member. The dome member is deformed to produce a reaction force when the top member is pressed by the operating member. A basal-end-side plane and a distal-end-side plane intersect each other at a position located on one of opposite sides of the dome member which is nearer to a pivot fulcrum of the operating member. The basal-end-side plane includes a line of intersection between the base member and the dome member adjacent to each other. The distal-end-side plane includes a line of intersection between the dome member and the top member adjacent to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Hiroshi HARIMOTO, Ichiro OSUGA
  • Patent number: 9040807
    Abstract: Reaction force generation members 21w, 21b are made of elastic body to be shaped like domes, respectively, so that the reaction force generation members 21w, 21b can be elastically deformed by depression exerted in directions of axis lines Yw, Yb, respectively, to increase their respective reaction forces from the beginning with the increasing amount of elastic deformation to buckle after respective peaks of the reaction forces to reduce the respective reaction forces. By varying the directions of the axis lines Yw, Yb of the reaction force generation members between a white key 11w and a black key 11b, the respective directions in which the reaction force generation members 21w, 21b are depressed at the peaks of the reaction forces are made close to the directions of the axis lines Yw, Yb of the reaction force generation members 21w, 21b, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ichiro Osuga, Hiroshi Harimoto
  • Publication number: 20150090104
    Abstract: A keyboard apparatus has a plurality of white keys and black keys each of which pivot. The keyboard apparatus also has a plurality of reaction force generation members 21w and 21b provided for the white keys and the black keys, respectively. The reaction force generation members 21w and 21b have dome portions 21w1 and 21b1, respectively, which are thin and shaped like a dome so as to be elastically deformed by depression, and base portions 21w3 and 21b3, respectively, which are thick and are formed integrally with the dome portions 21w1 and 21b1 to support the dome portions 21w1 and 21b1, the base portions 21w3 and 21b3 jutting outward from respective lower end surfaces of the dome portions 21w1 and 21b1. The vertical position of the lower end of the dome portion 21w1 is displaced from the vertical position of the lower end of the dome portion 21b1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Ichiro OSUGA, Hiroshi HARIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150090098
    Abstract: A key 11 is supported by key supporting portions 32 so that the key 11 can pivot. A reaction force generation member 22 is shaped like a dome to be elastically deformed by a key-depression of the key 11. At the time of the elastic deformation, the reaction force generation member 22 increases a reaction force from the beginning with an increasing amount of elastic deformation. After the reaction force reaches its peak, the reaction force generation member 22 buckles to reduce the reaction force. A normal line of a plane P1 including a pivot axis C of the key 11 and a depression point of a depression portion 11a is designed to be roughly parallel to an axis line Y1 of the reaction force generation member 22 at the point in time when the reaction force of the reaction force generation member 22 reaches its peak.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Ichiro OSUGA, Hiroshi HARIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20150090103
    Abstract: Reaction force generation members 21w, 21b are made of elastic body to be shaped like domes, respectively, so that the reaction force generation members 21w, 21b can be elastically deformed by depression exerted in directions of axis lines Yw, Yb, respectively, to increase their respective reaction forces from the beginning with the increasing amount of elastic deformation to buckle after respective peaks of the reaction forces to reduce the respective reaction forces. By varying the directions of the axis lines Yw, Yb of the reaction force generation members between a white key 11w and a black key 11b, the respective directions in which the reaction force generation members 21w, 21b are depressed at the peaks of the reaction forces are made close to the directions of the axis lines Yw, Yb of the reaction force generation members 21w, 21b, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Ichiro OSUGA, Hiroshi HARIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8987570
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes plural white keys, plural black keys, and plural hammers respectively engaged with the plural white and black keys. Vertical length of a drive portion for a first key and a second key are set the same, the first and second keys both being white keys, or both being black keys. Longitudinal position of hammer support portion of a first hammer engaged with the first key and longitudinal position of a hammer support portion of a second hammer engaged with the second key are set the same. Vertical positions of hammer support portions of the first and second hammers are respectively set according to a distance from a front end of an operation portion of the first key and a key support portion and a distance from a front end of an operation portion of the second key and a key support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Osuga, Kenichi Nishida, Shunsuke Ichiki, Hiroshi Harimoto, Shin Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8809660
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes hammers 16w, 16b that rock with the rocking movement of plural white and black keys 11w, 11b. The plural white and black keys 11w, 11b include drive units that drive the hammers 16w, 16b. The drive unit is provided on a front end of the key. A positional relationship between a plane including a key support portion of each white key 11w and black key 11b and the front end of the white key 11w and black key 11b, and a top face of each white key 11w and black key 11b is set such that the top faces of the plural white keys 11w and black keys 11b are located on the same plane, when the rocking angles of the plural white keys 11w and black keys 11b reach a predetermined angle respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Osuga, Kenichi Nishida, Shunsuke Ichiki, Hiroshi Harimoto, Shin Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8809659
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes plural white and black keys 11w, 11b that rock according to a key depression/release operation. Positions of key support portions 13w, 13b supporting the plural white and black keys 11w, 11b in the longitudinal direction are set to be different from one another. The keyboard device also includes hammers 16w, 16b that rock with the rocking movement of the plural white and black keys 11w, 11b. The plural white and black keys 11w, 11b include drive units 11w1, 11b1 that drive the hammers 16w, 16b. The pivot centers of the hammers are located on the same straight line extending in the lateral direction. The drive unit 11b1 is located anterior to the drive unit 11w1. An upper-limit stopper 21 and a lower-limit stopper 20, which restrict the rocking movement of the hammers 16w, 16b, are provided to extend in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Osuga, Kenichi Nishida, Shunsuke Ichiki, Hiroshi Harimoto, Shin Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8809658
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes plural white and black keys 11w, 11b that rock according to a key depression/release operation. Positions of key support portions 13w, 13b supporting the plural white and black keys 11b, 11w in the longitudinal direction are set to be different from one another. The keyboard device also includes hammers 16w, 16b that rock with the rocking movement of the plural white and black keys 11w, 11b. The plural white and black keys 11w, 11b include drive units 11w1, 11b1 that drive the hammers 16w, 16b. The drive units 11w1, 11b1 and the pivot centers of the hammers are located on the same straight line extending in the lateral direction. An upper-limit stopper 21 and a lower-limit stopper 20, which restrict the rocking movement of the hammers 16w, 16b, are provided to extend in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Osuga, Kenichi Nishida, Shunsuke Ichiki, Hiroshi Harimoto, Shin Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8802952
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes plural white and black keys 11w,11b that rock according to a key depression/release operation. Positions of key support portions 13w,13b supporting the plural white and black keys 11w,11b in the longitudinal direction are set to be different from one another. The keyboard device also includes hammers 16w,16b that rock with the rocking movement of the plural white and black keys 11w,11b. The plural white and black keys 11w, 11b include drive units 11w1, 11b1 that drive the hammers 16w, 16b respectively. The pivot center of the hammer 16b is located posterior to the pivot center of the hammer 16w. An upper-limit stopper 21 and a lower-limit stopper 20, which restrict the rocking movement of the hammers 16w, 16b are provided to extend in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Osuga, Kenichi Nishida, Shunsuke Ichiki, Hiroshi Harimoto, Shin Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8637755
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes hammers 16w,16b that rock with the rocking movement of plural white and black keys 11w,11b. The plural white and black keys 11w,11b include drive units that drive the hammers 16w,16b. The drive unit is provided anterior or posterior to a front end of the key. A positional relationship between a plane including a key support portion of each white key 11w and black key 11b and the front end of the white key 11w and black key 11b, and a top face of each white key 11w and black key 11b is set such that the top faces of the plural white keys 11w and black key 11b are located on the same plane, when the rocking angles of the plural white keys 11w and black key 11b reach a predetermined angle respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Osuga, Kenichi Nishida, Shunsuke Ichiki, Hiroshi Harimoto, Shin Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140000437
    Abstract: A keyboard device includes plural white keys, plural black keys, and plural hammers respectively engaged with the plural white and black keys. Vertical length of a drive portion for a first key and a second key are set the same, the first and second keys both being white keys, or both being black keys. Longitudinal position of hammer support portion of a first hammer engaged with the first key and longitudinal position of a hammer support portion of a second hammer engaged with the second key are set the same. Vertical positions of hammer support portions of the first and second hammers are respectively set according to a distance from a front end of an operation portion of the first key and a key support portion and a distance from a front end of an operation portion of the second key and a key support portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Ichiro OSUGA, Kenichi NISHIDA, Shunsuke ICHIKI, Hiroshi HARIMOTO, Shin YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 4794530
    Abstract: A credit settlement and ticketing terminal system comprises a terminal unit for issuing request information, and a central unit for performing a processing for ticketing a ticket or the like by referring to the issued request information and a file managed by the central unit, and for delivering results of the processing to the terminal unit to ticket or issue a desired ticket or the like. The central unit includes a processor for processing reservation and ticketing and a calculator for calculating charges for the reservation and ticketing. When the request information from the terminal unit is recognized as credit ticketing request information, the central unit settles the charges incurred by selling on credit, edits results of the credit settlement such that the results and a ticketing data are printed out on different sheets, and delivers as response information, the results and ticketing data to the terminal unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Japanese National Railways
    Inventors: Kazuo Yukiura, Keniti Seto, Kimio Watanabe, Hiroshi Harimoto, Akio Otani