Patents by Inventor Minoru Kawabata

Minoru Kawabata 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: 20230409416
    Abstract: Provided is an information sharing system including at least one processor configured to: acquire a use status of use by each of a plurality of users for each of a plurality of functions relating to an information sharing service for sharing information; and execute, for each of the functions, predetermined processing relating to the function based on the use status of the function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Minoru KAWABATA, Yuya KAWABATA, Yuichi SUGIYAMA, Shogo NINOMIYA, Takahiro FUKUNISHI, Takahiro YAMADA, Kaoru NAKAJIMA
  • Patent number: 8573950
    Abstract: A tower-internal-equipment bracket structure with a welded structure that can ensure a fatigue strength classification equal to or greater than that of butt welding (BW) or that requires no welding and a wind turbine generator provided with this tower-internal-equipment bracket structure are provided. In a tower-internal-equipment bracket structure provided inside a pole-type steel tower, employing a cylindrical shell (11), to support tower internal equipment, a ring-shaped member (20) having a protruding portion (21) toward the tower interior is interposed, by means of butt welding (BW), between divided portions formed by dividing the cylindrical shell (11) at a desired position in an axial direction, and the protruding portion (21) serves as a bracket-member support portion for the tower internal equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yokoyama, Yoshisuke Itoh, Minoru Kawabata, Tsuyoshi Haraguchi
  • Publication number: 20130212972
    Abstract: A tower that includes a junction having a sufficient yield strength and can easily ensure the accuracy of used tower sections, and a wind turbine generator having the tower, are provided. The tower configured by stacking a plurality of tower sections in a vertical direction and connecting the tower sections to each other includes a connecting member arranged in the tower section, the connecting member dividing an inside of the tower section into a plurality of regions in a horizontal plane, and having at least one end connected to an inner wall of the tower section, and a frictional joint part for connecting by frictional joint the connecting member to another connecting member connected to another adjacent tower section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Minoru KAWABATA
  • Publication number: 20130205686
    Abstract: Provided are a tower that has a sufficient yield strength and enables connection between tower sections without requiring a high manufacturing accuracy of the tower sections, and a wind turbine generator having the tower. The tower includes a plurality of tower sections formed by dividing the tower along planes that are parallel to a horizontal plane, and is constituted by connecting end surfaces of the tower sections to each other. The tower further includes a tensile member that has one end supported by a first supporting part at a first tower section among the tower sections, has another end supported by a second supporting part at a second tower section among the tower sections or at a tower base on which the tower is vertically installed, and is stretched along an inner wall of the tower sections so as to have a predetermined tensile force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Minoru KAWABATA
  • Publication number: 20130115054
    Abstract: A tower-internal-equipment bracket structure with a welded structure that can ensure a fatigue strength classification equal to or greater than that of butt welding (BW) or that requires no welding and a wind turbine generator provided with this tower-internal-equipment bracket structure are provided. In a tower-internal-equipment bracket structure provided inside a pole-type steel tower, employing a cylindrical shell (11), to support tower internal equipment, a ring-shaped member (20) having a protruding portion (21) toward the tower interior is interposed, by means of butt welding (BW), between divided portions formed by dividing the cylindrical shell (11) at a desired position in an axial direction, and the protruding portion (21) serves as a bracket-member support portion for the tower internal equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki YOKOYAMA, Yoshisuke ITOH, Minoru KAWABATA, Tsuyoshi HARAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8336687
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a vibration control apparatus that can be installed in a small pace and can be produced at low cost, as well as a wind turbine generator equipped with the vibration control apparatus and a vibration control method. The vibration control apparatus 7 includes a first vibration system 10 of inverted-pendulum type, second vibration systems 20 of inverted-pendulum type which are provided on both sides of the first vibration system 10, a restraining unit 30 which restrains a first weight 11 of the first vibration system 10 and a second weight 21 of the second vibration system 20 and a damper which damps vibration of the first weight 11 and the second weight 21. The vibration control apparatus 7 is installed on an upper floor 8a of a plurality of floors 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kawabata, Keisuke Sasajima, Atsushi Kubo, Hideaki Harada
  • Patent number: 8322975
    Abstract: A vibration control apparatus of a wind turbine generator that can be installed in a small space inside a tower, without a weight increase of the tower, and that can change the natural frequency thereof is provided. Included is a swinging rod extending in the vertical direction and suspended from beams provided on an upper part of the tower via a first universal joint; a flange part extending outward from the upper end outer surface of the swinging rod in the radial direction along the circumferential direction; a pendulum including a bob attached to the swinging rod and capable of moving up and down in the vertical direction; and a plurality of attenuation devices each of whose upper end is attached to the beams with a second universal joint and whose lower end is attached to the flange part with a third universal joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kawabata, Atsushi Kubo
  • Publication number: 20120267207
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a vibration control apparatus that can be installed in a small pace and can be produced at low cost, as well as a wind turbine generator equipped with the vibration control apparatus and a vibration control method. The vibration control apparatus 7 includes a first vibration system 10 of inverted-pendulum type, second vibration systems 20 of inverted-pendulum type which are provided on both sides of the first vibration system 10, a restraining unit 30 which restrains a first weight 11 of the first vibration system 10 and a second weight 21 of the second vibration system 20 and a damper which damps vibration of the first weight 11 and the second weight 21. The vibration control apparatus 7 is installed on an upper floor 8a of a plurality of floors 8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru KAWABATA, Keisuke SASAJIMA, Atsushi KUBO, Hideaki HARADA
  • Publication number: 20120063915
    Abstract: A vibration control apparatus of a wind turbine generator that can be installed in a small space inside a tower, without a weight increase of the tower, and that can change the natural frequency thereof is provided. Included is a swinging rod extending in the vertical direction and suspended from beams provided on an upper part of the tower via a first universal joint; a flange part extending outward from the upper end outer surface of the swinging rod in the radial direction along the circumferential direction; a pendulum including a bob attached to the swinging rod and capable of moving up and down in the vertical direction; and a plurality of attenuation devices each of whose upper end is attached to the beams with a second universal joint and whose lower end is attached to the flange part with a third universal joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru KAWABATA, Atsushi KUBO
  • Patent number: 7936095
    Abstract: When a certain period of time has elapsed since a direction retrieval unit received a control signal from an appliance controller, the direction retrieval unit instructs the microwave transmitter to transmit microwaves, and then instructs the microwave transmitter to perform scanning of the microwaves. When a notification signal receiver receives a notification signal from a remote controller, the direction retrieval unit instructs the microwave transmitter to stop the scanning of the microwaves. After this, the direction retrieval unit instructs a power controller to raise a power level of the microwaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: PANASONIC, Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Kawabata
  • Publication number: 20090146503
    Abstract: When a certain period of time has elapsed since a direction retrieval unit received a control signal from an appliance controller, the direction retrieval unit instructs the microwave transmitter to transmit microwaves, and then instructs the microwave transmitter to perform scanning of the microwaves. When a notification signal receiver receives a notification signal from a remote controller, the direction retrieval unit instructs the microwave transmitter to stop the scanning of the microwaves. After this, the direction retrieval unit instructs a power controller to raise a power level of the microwaves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Minoru Kawabata
  • Patent number: 7209182
    Abstract: A false contour correcting apparatus is capable of removing a false contour in an image based on a digital image signal while avoiding such a side effect caused by false contour correction where noises negatively effecting the display occur on a screen. Therefore, in the false contour correcting apparatus according, a double bit change detection circuit detects as a double bit change a signal value change which is twice a minimum quantization unit in a digital image signal, and outputs a double bit change detection signal representing the position of the double bit change. A signal correction circuit corrects the double bit change in the digital image signal into two one-bit changes on the basis of the double bit change detection signal. Consequently, a false contour corresponding to a portion where the double bit change exists is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kawabata, Atsuhisa Kageyama, Masahiro Takeshima
  • Publication number: 20070067801
    Abstract: A view programming system (PRA) capable of a view programming of a show which a user wants to view, among shows (Dav) composed of content data provided from a content data source. At least one show receiving apparatus (200) can receive a show (Dav). At least one view programming apparatus (100) programs the show receiving apparatus (200) to receive the shows (Dav). The show receiving apparatus (200) can receive an electronic mail (M) via a network (320). The view programming apparatus (100) transmits a first electronic mail (Ms) including programmed show information (IRP) prescribing a show (Dav) to be received, via the network (320) to the show receiving apparatus (200).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Monta, Minoru Kawabata
  • Publication number: 20050033793
    Abstract: Provided is a digital broadcast shopping system which permits a party contributing to the digital broadcast shopping system to receive a consideration for its contribution to the digital broadcast shopping system. Thus is provided the digital broadcast shopping system wherein a receiver manufacturer can also receive a consideration for its contribution to the digital broadcast shopping system. The digital broadcast shopping system includes: a digital broadcast receiver operative to send out purchaser-issued information; a receiver manufacturer-side processor operative to receive the purchaser-issued information and to send out billing information on a receiver usage charge; and a product distributor-side processor operative to receive the purchaser-issued information and the billing information on the receiver usage charge and to perform a payment procedure for the receiver usage charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: Hiroki Monta, Minoru Kawabata
  • Publication number: 20040008282
    Abstract: A false contour correcting apparatus is capable of removing a false contour in an image based on a digital image signal while avoiding such a side effect caused by false contour correction where noises negatively effecting the display occur on a screen. Therefore, in the false contour correcting apparatus according, a double bit change detection circuit detects as a double bit change a signal value change which is twice a minimum quantization unit in a digital image signal, and outputs a double bit change detection signal representing the position of the double bit change. A signal correction circuit corrects the double bit change in the digital image signal into two one-bit changes on the basis of the double bit change detection signal. Consequently, a false contour corresponding to a portion where the double bit change exists is removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Minoru Kawabata, Atsuhisa Kageyama, Masahiro Takeshima
  • Patent number: 6661469
    Abstract: A false contour correcting apparatus is capable of removing a false contour in an image based on a digital image signal while avoiding such a side effect caused by false contour correction where noises negatively effecting the display occur on a screen. Therefore, in the false contour correcting apparatus according, a double bit change detection circuit detects as a double bit change a signal value change which is twice a minimum quantization unit in a digital image signal, and outputs a double bit change detection signal representing the position of the double bit change. A signal correction circuit corrects the double bit change in the digital image signal into two one-bit changes on the basis of the double bit change detection signal. Consequently, a false contour corresponding to a portion where the double bit change exists is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kawabata, Atsuhisa Kageyama, Masahiro Takeshima
  • Patent number: 6373533
    Abstract: The tone of video signals is corrected without degrading the tone of certain image features, such as a human face. A gain controller operates and outputs an adjustment value using a histogram output produced by a histogram generator. An average value of picture levels on a screen is detected by an average picture level detector. A histogram correction circuit calculates a look-up table, and a video signal correction circuit corrects the tone of the video signals using the look-up table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kawabata, Masahiro Takeshima, Atsuhisa Kageyama, Hiroko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 6295095
    Abstract: In a video signal character converting device, a sampling window signal generator generates a signal for sampling an input video signal “a”. A video scene amplitude discrimination circuit samples the video signal in response to the sampling signal, detects a change in image level either field by field or frame by frame based on an integrated value for every duration of vertical scanning, and outputs a resetting pulse when the change in picture level exceeds a predetermined level. A video scene periodicity discrimination circuit measures a time interval between two successive resetting pulses, and outputs a control signal if the time interval is shorter than a predetermined period. A video scene conversion circuit converts a video scene in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kawabata, Atsuhisa Kageyama
  • Patent number: 6252983
    Abstract: A histogram generator creates a histogram to detect the characteristics of video signals. The histogram generator allows for a reduction in problems of instability caused by noise that may exist in other histogram generators. A width is allocated to thresholds used in creating the histogram, and signal values are counted after weighting those falling near a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Takeshima, Atsuhisa Kageyama, Minoru Kawabata, Hiroko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: RE38413
    Abstract: Red color saturation is increased and red color with higher purity can be reproduced by composing: a red color detection circuit 1 for detecting a red color signal having higher purity by inputting color differential signals (R-Y) and (B-Y) modulated by color subcarrier, subtracting the absolute value of the (B-Y) signal from the positive polarity component of the (R-Y) signal and removing the negative part of the subtracted signal; Y signal compensation block including: first gain controller 50b for controlling the output signal amplitude of red color detection circuit 1 and a subtracter 50a for subtracting the output signal of first gain controller 50b from a luminance signal Y; an (R-Y) signal compensation block including: second gain controller 51b for controlling the output signal amplitude of red color detection circuit 1 and an adder 51a for adding the output signal of second gain controller 51b and the input (R-Y) signal; and a (B-Y) signal compensation block including: third gain controller 52b for c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroko Sugimoto, Atsuhisa Kageyama, Masahiro Takeshima, Minoru Kawabata