Patents by Inventor Kihachiro Tonomura

Kihachiro Tonomura 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: 5420493
    Abstract: An integrated AC adapter and battery charger is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an AC adapter unit for converting AC power to a DC power and a battery charging apparatus coupled to the AC adapter unit for charging a battery pack. The battery charging apparatus further comprises a microcontroller for sensing the condition of the battery pack or tacks being charged, a memory for storing the proper charging profile for a number of different types of battery packs, and a charging current generator capable of generating a varying charging current based on the microcontroller's determination of the battery's condition and the charging profile stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Hargadon, Steven J. Young, Kihachiro Tonomura, Markus Wallgren, Mark Gurries
  • Patent number: 5214526
    Abstract: A pulse modulated infrared data communications link including a transmitter and receiver in which the data to be sent is encoded as a biphase modulated signal having bit-cell and mid-cell transitions. Each transition is encoded as a narrow pulse in a pulse modulated signal. The pulse modulated signal is used to activate an infrared optical transmitter for generating pulsed optical signals. At a receiver, an optical detector converts pulsed optical signals into pulsed electrical signals. The pulsed electrical signals are amplified and filtered and evaluated by a comparator to generate a pulsed digital signal. The pulsed digital signal is processed by a logic circuit to generate a biphase encoded signal for transmitting on a serial data line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Apple Computer, Inc.
    Inventor: Kihachiro Tonomura