Patents by Inventor Kazuo Nishikawa

Kazuo Nishikawa 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: 10717447
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a visual perception target determination unit for determining a visual perception target by using a saliency model for determining that an object to be visually perceived at a glance is a visual perception target, a surprise model for determining that an object behaving abnormally is a visual perception target, and a normative model for determining that an object to be visually perceived by a viewing action of a driver serving as a norm is a visual perception target; and a visual guidance unit for determining whether or not an overlooked visual perception to which a line-of-sight direction detected by a line-of-sight detection unit is not directed is present, and guiding a line-of-sight of a driver toward the overlooked visual perception target, when the overlooked visual perception target is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Isa, Masatoshi Yoshida, Richard Veale, Yusaku Takeda, Toshihiro Hara, Koji Iwase, Atsuhide Kishi, Kazuo Nishikawa, Takahide Nozawa
  • Patent number: 10535150
    Abstract: The present disclosure attempts to evaluate how the texture of an object is perceived based on visual features of the topological skeleton of the object. A camera S1 obtains a color image by taking an image of an object, which serves as an evaluation target. Within the image obtained, a visual feature area, which is likely to strike a person's eye when the person claps his/her eyes on the object, and an intensity of a visual stimulus of each pixel of the visual feature area are extracted. Visual skeleton features of each pixel of the image are determined within a contour region which is composed of the visual feature areas extracted. The visual skeleton features determined are shown on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki Watanabe, Naokazu Goda, Hidehiko Komatsu, Nanae Michida, Atsuhide Kishi, Kazuo Nishikawa, Takahide Nouzawa
  • Patent number: 10289837
    Abstract: A log information generation apparatus includes: a process information generation unit which generates first identification information for temporally and spatially uniquely identifying a process that is an execution subject of an application program at a start of a process behavior constituted by a series of events of the process, in a space of a system including a plurality of computers, and which generates process information including the first identification information; an event information generation unit which generates event type information indicating an event type for each of the events and which generates event information including the event type information; and a log information generation unit which generates, for each of the events, log information including the process information generated by the process information generation unit and the event information generated by the event information generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: SOLITON SYSTEMS K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Uehara, Kaori Araki, Kazuo Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 10274727
    Abstract: An edge of, for example, a windshield which serves as range of vision is defined by front pillars, a roof, and a dashboard. A modification area is provided at a peripheral portion of the windshield. In the modification area, visual saliency (visual conspicuousness) can be partially increased by means of, e.g., liquid crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Iwase, Yusaku Takeda, Toshihiro Hara, Atsuhide Kishi, Kazuo Nishikawa, Takahide Nouzawa
  • Publication number: 20180362053
    Abstract: The present invention includes: a visual perception target determination unit for determining a visual perception target by using a saliency model for determining that an object to be visually perceived at a glance is a visual perception target, a surprise model for determining that an object behaving abnormally is a visual perception target, and a normative model for determining that an object to be visually perceived by a viewing action of a driver serving as a norm is a visual perception target; and a visual guidance unit for determining whether or not an overlooked visual perception to which a line-of-sight direction detected by a line-of-sight detection unit is not directed is present, and guiding a line-of-sight of a driver toward the overlooked visual perception target, when the overlooked visual perception target is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi ISA, Masatoshi YOSHIDA, Richard VEALE, Yusaku TAKEDA, Toshihiro HARA, Koji IWASE, Atsuhide KISHI, Kazuo NISHIKAWA, Takahide NOZAWA
  • Publication number: 20180235155
    Abstract: Plant growth is promoted by a simple method. A plant (10) is irradiated with a positive ion and a negative ion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: HIROKAZU FUNAMORI, SATOHIKO YAMAMOTO, KAZUSHI IYATANI, KAZUO NISHIKAWA, TAKASHI IKKA, AKIO MORITA, YASUNO TANAKA, YOSHIKI ONO
  • Publication number: 20180211032
    Abstract: A log information generation apparatus includes: a process information generation unit which generates first identification information for temporally and spatially uniquely identifying a process that is an execution subject of an application program at a start of a process behavior constituted by a series of events of the process, in a space of a system including a plurality of computers, and which generates process information including the first identification information; an event information generation unit which generates event type information indicating an event type for each of the events and which generates event information including the event type information; and a log information generation unit which generates, for each of the events, log information including the process information generated by the process information generation unit and the event information generated by the event information generation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Uehara, Kaori Araki, Kazuo Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20180093695
    Abstract: A device for detecting an approach distance of a living body is provided. The device detects hover touch. The surfaces of a first electrode and a second electrode are covered by an insulator to form an electrode section. A high-frequency power source is connected to the first electrode via an inductive element for forming a resonance circuit. An ammeter is connected to the second electrode. A correlation between a resonance frequency and a resonance resistance is obtained. It is determined that the living body is in hover touch with the electrode section when the resonance resistance is higher than an initial resistance corresponding to a leakage resistance between the first and second electrodes, and the resonance resistance increases or decreases whereas the resonance frequency decreases or increases, based on the correlation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Reiji HATTORI, Yuhei MORIMOTO, Yutarou ONO, Masayuki WATANABE, Nanae MICHIDA, Atsuhide KISHI, Kazuo NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20180031831
    Abstract: An edge of, for example, a windshield which serves as range of vision is defined by front pillars, a roof, and a dashboard. A modification area is provided at a peripheral portion of the windshield. In the modification area, visual saliency (visual conspicuousness) can be partially increased by means of, e.g., liquid crystals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji IWASE, Yusaku TAKEDA, Toshihiro HARA, Atsuhide KISHI, Kazuo NISHIKAWA, Takahide NOUZAWA
  • Patent number: 9875353
    Abstract: A log information generation apparatus includes: a process information generation unit which generates first identification information for temporally and spatially uniquely identifying a process that is an execution subject of an application program at a start of a process behavior constituted by a series of events of the process, in a space of a system including a plurality of computers, and which generates process information including the first identification information; an event information generation unit which generates event type information indicating an event type for each of the events and which generates event information including the event type information; and a log information generation unit which generates, for each of the events, log information including the process information generated by the process information generation unit and the event information generated by the event information generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SOLITON SYSTEMS K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Uehara, Kaori Araki, Kazuo Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20170358097
    Abstract: The present disclosure attempts to evaluate how the texture of an object is perceived based on visual features of the topological skeleton of the object. A camera S1 obtains a color image by taking an image of an object, which serves as an evaluation target. Within the image obtained, a visual feature area, which is likely to strike a person's eye when the person claps his/her eyes on the object, and an intensity of a visual stimulus of each pixel of the visual feature area are extracted. Visual skeleton features of each pixel of the image are determined within a contour region which is composed of the visual feature areas extracted. The visual skeleton features determined are shown on a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayuki WATANABE, Naokazu GODA, Hidehiko KOMATSU, Nanae MICHIDA, Atsuhide KISHI, Kazuo NISHIKAWA, Takahide NOUZAWA
  • Publication number: 20170103200
    Abstract: A log information generation apparatus includes: a process information generation unit which generates first identification information for temporally and spatially uniquely identifying a process that is an execution subject of an application program at a start of a process behavior constituted by a series of events of the process, in a space of a system including a plurality of computers, and which generates process information including the first identification information; an event information generation unit which generates event type information indicating an event type for each of the events and which generates event information including the event type information; and a log information generation unit which generates, for each of the events, log information including the process information generated by the process information generation unit and the event information generated by the event information generation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Uehara, Kaori Araki, Kazuo Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9511649
    Abstract: There are provided view adjustment areas respectively at an upper edge part, a lower edge part, and right-and-left side edge parts of a windshield glass, wherein the view adjustment areas are configured to be respectively switchable between in a transparent state in which forward visibility is ensured and in a translucent or non-transparent state in which the forward visibility is limited (for example, adhesion of a liquid-crystal film). Thereby, the size or the shape of the window-frame structure of the windshield glass which is physically unchangeable can be visually changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Okamoto, Takahide Nouzawa, Kazuo Nishikawa, Atsuhide Kishi, Takayoshi Nakamoto, Naoki Yamada, Hironobu Yonezawa, Toshihiro Yoshida, Hiroko Kajikawa, Masaki Chiba
  • Patent number: 9365884
    Abstract: An environmental evaluation installation including an evaluation chamber 1 isolated from outer space by isolation walls 2, minute substance supply means 3 configured to supply a microorganism into the evaluation chamber 1, a minute substance removing means 4 configured to supply removal particles for removing the microorganism into the evaluation chamber 1, and a minute substance collecting means 5 configured to collect the microorganism in the evaluation chamber 1, and which is characterized in that many air supply holes 21 are provided for almost the whole surfaces of the isolation walls 2 except at least the floor surface of the isolation walls 2 and that air is made to flow into the evaluation chamber 1 from the air supply holes 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuo Nishikawa, Norihiro Matsuoka, Tetsuya Yoneda, Hisaharu Yagi, Masashi Kawai
  • Publication number: 20160039271
    Abstract: There are provided view adjustment areas respectively at an upper edge part, a lower edge part, and right-and-left side edge parts of a windshield glass, wherein the view adjustment areas are configured to be respectively switchable between in a transparent state in which forward visibility is ensured and in a translucent or non-transparent state in which the forward visibility is limited (for example, adhesion of a liquid-crystal film). Thereby, the size or the shape of the window-frame structure of the windshield glass which is physically unchangeable can be visually changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihisa OKAMOTO, Takahide NOUZAWA, Kazuo NISHIKAWA, Atsuhide KISHI, Takayoshi NAKAMOTO, Naoki YAMADA, Hironobu YONEZAWA, Toshihiro YOSHIDA, Hiroko KAJIKAWA, Masaki CHIBA
  • Patent number: 9064427
    Abstract: A medical training apparatus comprising an instrument holder with a medical instrument, a model patient body simulating a patient subject to medical treatment or examination, and an examination table on which the model patient body is placed. The medical training apparatus comprises a posture detection means for detecting the posture of the examination table, a medical instrument status detection means for detecting the working status of the medical instrument, an examination receiving status detection means for detecting the situation of the model patient body in medical treatment or examination, and a model patient body driving means housed in the model patient body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignees: THE NIPPON DENTAL UNIVERSITY, J. MORITA MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, KOKORO COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Naotake Shibui, Satoshi Uzuka, Kiminari Nakamura, Kazuo Nishikawa, Mikinori Nishimura, Teruji Nakai, Tatsuo Matsuzaki, Takeshi Kira, Tadashi Shimaya
  • Patent number: 8828714
    Abstract: The sterilizing effect of particle irradiation on microorganisms for the sterilizing treatment thereof can be evaluated. The evaluation can be done by supplying microorganisms in the space inside a container (8), allowing particles (7) for the sterilizing treatment of microorganisms to irradiate the microorganisms, sampling the microorganisms by a sampling means (6) after the irradiation of the particles (7) and measuring the sampled microorganisms. The microorganisms as the subject for the sterilizing treatment can be a combination of one or more members selected from the group consisting of bacteria, mycete, viruses and allergens. As the particles, for example, positive ions, negative ions, and gases of positive ions and negative ions in mixture, charged particles such as ? rays and ? rays, various plasma gas particles, particles such as ozone and radical particles, and particles of chemical agent can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuo Nishikawa, Hisaharu Yagi, Yoshihiro Shimizu, Tetsuyuki Ohtani, Hideo Nojima, Miyuki Aoki
  • Patent number: 8773838
    Abstract: An ion generating device generates O2?(H2O)n (where n is a natural number) as negative ions and H+(H2O)m (where m is a natural number) as positive ions, and discharges those ions into the air so that airborne germs are killed through an oxidation reaction by hydrogen peroxide H2O2 or radical hydroxyl OH generated through as an active species a chemical reaction between the negative and positive ions. Satisfactory sterilization is achieved when the negative and positive ions are generated in such a way that the concentrations of the negative and positive ions are both 10,000 ion/cc at a distance of 10 cm from the point at which they are generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasukata Takeda, Yoshinori Sekoguchi, Takeshi Furukawa, Mamoru Morikawa, Toshiaki Takano, Katsutoshi Noguchi, Hideo Nojima, Kazuo Nishikawa, Akio Miyata
  • Patent number: 8685328
    Abstract: In order to remove a pathogenic effect of a microorganism in a room or a work space in a short period of time, an ion diffusing apparatus, which includes an ion generator (17, 18) for generating positive ions each including H+(H2O)m and negative ions each including O2?(H2O)n, where m and n are arbitrary integers, and a blower for delivering the positive ions and the negative ions, which are generated from the ion generator (17), from a blowout opening, is operated to widely distribute, with a high concentration, the positive ions and the negative ions in the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Okano, Kazuo Nishikawa, Hisaharu Yagi, Norihiro Matsuoka, Tomonori Akai, Misaki Nakamura, Yoshihiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8627531
    Abstract: When the electrically driven fan (14) of a vacuum cleaner is driven, air containing dust is drawn into the cleaner main body (1) through a hose (7) connected to a hose socket (8) and is exhausted into the outside of the cleaner main body (1) through an exhaust port (1b) via first and second suction passageways (10, 13). Disposed outside the first suction passageway (10) is an ion generator (23), it being arranged that plus and minus ions generated in the ion generator (23) are fed to the air stream flowing in the first suction passageway (10). Since the plus and minus ions kill floating germs in the air stream, the exhaust can be purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohji Ninomiya, Mikio Yagi, Shigenori Hato, Kazumasa Hayashi, Hiroshi Yoshimura, Yoshihiro Shimizu, Hideo Nojima, Hisaharu Yagi, Kazuo Nishikawa, Tetsuyuki Ohtani