Patents by Inventor Kenichi Kitayama

Kenichi Kitayama 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: 8069611
    Abstract: A sensor assembly and method includes a window regular mechanism having a main lift arm supporting the pane and a drive mechanism. The main lift arm includes a sector gear plate that is drivingly rotated by the drive mechanism. A slot defined in the sector gear plate receives a guide of a sensor mechanism. The guide is moved along the slot as the sector gear plate is rotated such that the guide is moved into a first portion of the slot when the sector gear plate is driven in a first rotatable direction to move the window pane toward its closed position and moved into a second portion of the slot when the sector gear plate is driven in a second, opposite rotatable direction to move the window pane toward its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Kitayama
  • Publication number: 20110138693
    Abstract: A door frame for a vehicle includes a door frame, a window regulator mounted to the door frame for opening and closing a window pane, and a door lining mounted to the door frame. A plurality of mounting apertures is defined in the door frame, including at least one first mounting aperture for mounting the window regulator and at least one second mounting aperture for mounting the door lining. An isolating aperture is defined in the door frame between the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture for isolating the at least one second aperture from the at least one first aperture to thereby reduce lateral forces imparted to the door frame from the window regulator from transferring to the door lining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Trent Bozzo, Kozo Kusumoto, Kenichi Kitayama
  • Publication number: 20110095546
    Abstract: A door assembly for a vehicle comprises a vehicle door having an outside door panel, and a handle that is moveably mounted to the vehicle door. A latch actuator is operatively connected to the handle. Movement of the handle moves the latch actuator to an open position to allow opening of the door. An internal door part is connected to the outside door panel. The internal door part includes a contact area internally offset from the outside door panel. A counterbalancing member is cooperatively associated with the handle. During a crash condition causing deformation of the door and intrusion of the handle, the counterbalancing member engages the contact area of the internal door part to prevent the handle from moving the latch actuator to the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Stephen Russell, Christopher Mampe, Kenichi Kitayama, Masatoshi Mori, Kenneth M. Hartlaub
  • Publication number: 20110089714
    Abstract: A roller assembly for a sliding vehicle closure includes a bracket secured to an associated sliding vehicle closure and a ball-type roller secured to the bracket at a location spaced apart from the associated sliding vehicle closure. The ball-type roller is fixed in position relative to the associated sliding vehicle closure during opening and closing thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Kitayama
  • Publication number: 20110013909
    Abstract: Problem An object of the present invention is to provide an optical code division multiple access system which is used by many people. Means for Solving The above problem is solved by an optical code division multiple access, OCDMA, system 5 which have a central office 2 comprising a multi-port optical encoder 1, a decode part 4 comprising a decoder 3 for decoding optical code signals from the multi-port optical encoder 1. The multi-port optical encoder 1 transform input optical signals into optical code signals the wavelength of them differs at predetermined amount based on code pattern. The decoder 3 is super structured fiber Bragg grating, SSFBG, which has center wavelength that corresponds to optical code signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kataoka, Naoya Wada, Gabriella Cincotti, Xu Wang, Kenichi Kitayama, Akira Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20100287838
    Abstract: A sensor assembly and method for detecting the position of an openable pane in a sliding vehicle door includes a window regular mechanism having a main lift arm supporting the pane and a drive mechanism for moving the pane in downward and upward directions. The main lift arm includes a sector gear plate at one end thereof. The sector gear plate is drivingly rotated by the drive mechanism. A slot is defined in the sector gear plate and the guide of a sensor mechanism is received in the slot. The guide is moved along the slot as the sector gear plate is rotated such that the guide is moved into a first portion of the slot when the sector gear plate is driven in a first rotatable direction to move the window pane toward its closed position and moved into a second portion of the slot when the sector gear plate is driven in a second, opposite rotatable direction to move the window pane toward its open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: Kenichi Kitayama
  • Publication number: 20100289299
    Abstract: A sliding mechanism is configured for attaching a sliding door to a body structure of a vehicle such that the sliding door is movable with respect to the body structure between closed and opened positions. The sliding mechanism includes a guide track and a roller member. The guide track is configured for attachment to the body structure of the vehicle. The roller member is configured for attachment to the sliding door. The roller member is movably engaged with the guide track. Vehicles are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventor: Kenichi Kitayama
  • Publication number: 20100289289
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes a multi-piece frame. The multi-piece frame includes a left frame assembly, a right frame assembly, an upper frame member and a lower frame member. The upper frame member and lower frame member extend laterally along a respective top section and a bottom section of the frame for interconnecting the left and right frame assemblies. The multi-piece frame defines a generally continuous closed boxed structure which extends about a periphery of the multi-piece frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Robert Bator, Kenichi Kitayama
  • Publication number: 20100196005
    Abstract: Data security of a multi-dimensional code system is increased. An optical device is provided with a single input port; a splitter splitting an input light from the input port into a plurality of lights; a plurality of phase shifters each shifting one of the lights split by the splitter; a multi-port encoder/decoder inputting the lights whose phases are shifted by the phase shifters and generating spectral encoded codes; and a plurality of output ports outputting the spectral encoded codes generated by the multi-port encoder/decoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Naoya Wada, Gabriella Cincotti, Xu Wang, Kenichi Kitayama
  • Patent number: 7703816
    Abstract: A vehicle door checker is provided that includes a housing attachable to a vehicle door, an arm having a first portion attachable to the vehicle, and wherein a second portion of the arm moves through the housing when the door is moved. The door checker also includes at least one slider held within the housing that is in sliding contact with the second portion of the arm inside of the housing. At least one biasing member is held within the housing, the biasing member biasing the slider against the second portion of the arm. A water management dam provides a barrier in the housing such that water is prevented from accumulating within the housing and freezing, wherein such freezing would cause damage to the housing and/or prevent the biasing member and slider from moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Robert Bator
  • Patent number: 7670671
    Abstract: A laminated barrier is provided that can be easily attached to the frame of a vehicle door. The barrier reduces the passage of water, dust and sound into and through the vehicle door. The barrier is generally flat and includes a channel formed therein that aids in locating a bead of adhesive material, aligned with, but located on an opposite side of the barrier from the channel. The bead of adhesive material bonds the barrier to the door frame of the vehicle. The channel acts as a witness line and can be formed as part of an overall thermoforming step, or more simply by using a single heated die element during a step when the barrier is trimmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Russell, Kenichi Kitayama, Robert Bator
  • Publication number: 20090072552
    Abstract: A vehicle door checker is provided that includes a housing attachable to a vehicle door, an arm having a first portion attachable to the vehicle, and wherein a second portion of the arm moves through the housing when the door is moved. The door checker also includes at least one slider held within the housing that is in sliding contact with the second portion of the arm inside of the housing. At least one biasing member is held within the housing, the biasing member biasing the slider against the second portion of the arm. A water management dam provides a barrier in the housing such that water is prevented from accumulating within the housing and freezing, wherein such freezing would cause damage to the housing and/or prevent the biasing member and slider from moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Robert Bator
  • Patent number: 7469944
    Abstract: A vehicle door checker is provided that includes a housing attachable to a vehicle door, an arm having a first portion attachable to the vehicle, and wherein a second portion of the arm moves through the housing when the door is moved. The door checker also includes at least one slider held within the housing that is in sliding contact with the second portion of the arm inside of the housing. At least one biasing member is held within the housing, the biasing member biasing the slider against the second portion of the arm. A water management dam provides a barrier in the housing such that water is prevented from accumulating within the housing and freezing, wherein such freezing would cause damage to the housing and/or prevent the biasing member and slider from moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Robert Bator
  • Publication number: 20070292661
    Abstract: A laminated barrier is provided that can be easily attached to the frame of a vehicle door. The barrier reduces the passage of water, dust and sound into and through the vehicle door. The barrier is generally flat and includes a channel formed therein that aids in locating a bead of adhesive material, aligned with, but located on an opposite side of the barrier from the channel. The bead of adhesive material bonds the barrier to the door frame of the vehicle. The channel acts as a witness line and can be formed as part of an overall thermoforming step, or more simply by using a single heated die element during a step when the barrier is trimmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Stephen Russell, Kenichi Kitayama, Robert Bator
  • Publication number: 20070241569
    Abstract: A vehicle door checker is provided that includes a housing attachable to a vehicle door, an arm having a first portion attachable to the vehicle, and wherein a second portion of the arm moves through the housing when the door is moved. The door checker also includes at least one slider held within the housing that is in sliding contact with the second portion of the arm inside of the housing. At least one biasing member is held within the housing, the biasing member biasing the slider against the second portion of the arm. A water management dam provides a barrier in the housing such that water is prevented from accumulating within the housing and freezing, wherein such freezing would cause damage to the housing and/or prevent the biasing member and slider from moving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Kitayama, Robert Bator
  • Publication number: 20070222230
    Abstract: A closure assembly is mounted on a vehicle and moveable between a closed position and at least one open position. The closure assembly includes a closure structure mounted to an associated vehicle for movement between the closed position and the at least one open position. A first lock assembly is selectively locking the closure structure to the associated vehicle. A second lock assembly is selectively locking the closure structure to the associated vehicle. One of the first and second lock assemblies includes a latch that requires overstroking to lock the latch in a latched position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Matthew Plett, Steven Thiele, Kenichi Kitayama
  • Patent number: 7258373
    Abstract: A lock assembly for selectively locking to a striker on a vehicle includes a lock body defining a lock body recess for receiving the striker therein. A latch is rotatably mounted to the lock body for selectively locking the striker in the lock body recess. The latch is moveable between a latched position wherein the striker is locked in the lock body recess and an unlatched position wherein the striker is removable from the lock body recess. A ratchet is rotatably mounted to the lock body adjacent the latch for selectively locking the latch in the latched position. The ratchet is moveable between an engaged position wherein the ratchet locks the latch in the latched position and a disengaged position wherein the latch is moveable between the latched position and the unlatched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew Plett, Steven Thiele, Kenichi Kitayama
  • Patent number: 7243973
    Abstract: A closure assembly is mounted on a vehicle and moveable between a closed position and at least one open position. The closure assembly includes a closure structure mounted to an associated vehicle for movement between the closed position and the at least one open position. A first lock assembly is selectively locking the closure structure to the associated vehicle. A second lock assembly is selectively locking the closure structure to the associated vehicle. One of the first and second lock assemblies includes a latch that requires overstroking to lock the latch in a latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew Plett, Steven Thiele, Kenichi Kitayama
  • Patent number: 7201422
    Abstract: A tailgate synchronizer for coordinating mechanical communication between first and second handles mounted to a tailgate and first and second lock assemblies that selectively lock the tailgate to a vehicle body includes a first lock assembly actuator lever rotatably mounted to the tailgate. The first lock assembly actuator lever is selectively movable by the first handle. The first lock assembly actuator lever is connected to the first lock assembly so that the first lock assembly actuator lever unlocks the first lock assembly when sufficiently moved by the first handle. A second lock assembly actuator lever is rotatably mounted to the tailgate and selectively movable by the second handle. The second lock assembly actuator lever is connected to the second lock assembly so that the second lock assembly actuator lever unlocks the second lock assembly when sufficiently moved by the second handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew Plett, Steven Thiele, Kenichi Kitayama
  • Patent number: 7165800
    Abstract: A tailgate assembly is adapted to be mounted along an open edge of a vehicle's load-carrying bed for alternatively pivoting about (1) a first axis generally parallel with the open edge of the tailgate for movement between a closed position and a fold-open position and (2) a second axis generally normal relative to the first axis for movement between the closed position and a swing-open position. The tailgate assembly includes a tailgate, a dual-mode hinge assembly, a first hinge/lock assembly and a second hinge/lock assembly. The first hinge/lock assembly is selectively latched to an associated first hinge/lock striker and cooperates with the dual-mode hinge assembly to pivotally support the tailgate about a first pivot axis. The second hinge/lock assembly is selectively latched to an associated second hinge/lock striker and cooperates with the dual-mode hinge assembly to pivotally support the tailgate about a second pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Thiele, Danny Cheung, Matthew Plett, Kenichi Kitayama, Kurt Johansen, Joel Romig