Patents by Inventor Seiji Hara

Seiji Hara 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: 11934938
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for training a neural network to capture a structural feature specific to a set of chemical compounds is disclosed. In the method, the computer system reads an expression describing a structure of the chemical compound for each chemical compound in the set and enumerates one or more combinations of a position and a type of a structural element appearing in the expression for each chemical compound in the set. The computer system also generates training data based on the one or more enumerated combinations for each chemical compound in the set. The training data includes one or more values with a length, each of which indicates whether or not a corresponding type of the structural element appears at a corresponding position for each combination. Furthermore, the computer system trains the neural network based on the training data for the set of the chemical compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Hara, Gakuto Kurata, Shigeru Nakagawa, Seiji Takeda
  • Publication number: 20230393515
    Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming unit, a plurality of drive units configured to drive the image forming unit, a sound detection unit configured to detect operation sounds of the plurality of drive units, and a control unit configured to implement a drive mode for operating at least one of the plurality of drive units and not operating other drive units, without forming an image on a recording material by the image forming unit, wherein the control unit implements the drive mode when the value of a counter reaches a threshold value, the counter being incremented with each image formation on a recording material by the image forming unit, and wherein the identification operation identifies a component causing the predetermined sound based on the operation sounds detected by the sound detection unit during a period in which the drive mode is being implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: SEIJI HARA, YOHEI SUZUKI, HIROSHI HAGIWARA
  • Patent number: 11822276
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of members for forming an image; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a sonic wave; a receiving unit configured to receive a first sonic wave that has been transmitted from the transmitting unit and has passed through a sheet and a second sonic wave that is generated from at least one of the plurality of members; a detection unit configured to detect information regarding a type or state of the sheet based on the first sonic wave; and a determination unit configured to determine a state of a member that has generated the second sonic wave based on the second sonic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Suzuki, Junya Azami, Seiji Hara, Atsunobu Mori, Masafumi Monde, Tatsuya Hotogi, Hirotaka Shiomichi
  • Publication number: 20230300258
    Abstract: A sound diagnosis system includes: a setting unit configured to set a threshold for each of a plurality of time sections, based on a sound wave level in each of the plurality of time sections of a plurality of first sound data classified in a first group; and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not an abnormal sound is generated by calculating a comparison value for each of the plurality of time sections based on a sound wave level in each of the plurality of time sections of one or more second sound data classified in the first group, and comparing the comparison value for each of the plurality of time sections with the threshold value of the corresponding time section of the first group, the threshold value being set by the setting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: YOHEI SUZUKI, SEIJI HARA, HIROSHI HAGIWARA
  • Publication number: 20230288861
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first detector detecting an operation sound based on a sound wave received by a receiver; a second detector detecting basis weight of recording material based on an ultrasonic wave transmitted from a transmitter and received by the receiver; a switching unit that switches destination of a reception signal from the receiver between a first path to the first detector and a second path to the second detector; and a controller that controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the first path at a first timing and to the second path at a second timing. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the controller controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the second path at the first timing or to the first path at the second timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Atsunobu Mori, Yohei Suzuki, Seiji Hara, Yasuhisa Matsumoto, Junya Azami, Masafumi Monde, Hirotaka Shiomichi, Tatsuya Hotogi
  • Patent number: 11693347
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first detector detecting an operation sound based on a sound wave received by a receiver; a second detector detecting basis weight of recording material based on an ultrasonic wave transmitted from a transmitter and received by the receiver; a switching unit that switches destination of a reception signal from the receiver between a first path to the first detector and a second path to the second detector; and a controller that controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the first path at a first timing and to the second path at a second timing. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the controller controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the second path at the first timing or to the first path at the second timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsunobu Mori, Yohei Suzuki, Seiji Hara, Yasuhisa Matsumoto, Junya Azami, Masafumi Monde, Hirotaka Shiomichi, Tatsuya Hotogi
  • Patent number: 11635722
    Abstract: A drive transmitting device includes a first gear; a second gear in engagement with the first gear; wherein a first tooth which is at least one of teeth of the first gear has a tooth surface contacting a tooth of the second gear, wherein the tooth surface has such a shape that a contact point of the first tooth of the first gear to the tooth of the second gear is in a region of a first gear side with respect to a line of action which is formed by movement of a contact point between a tooth of the second gear and a second tooth of the first gear immediately before the first tooth with respect to a rotational moving direction of the first gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Kawamura, Seiji Hara
  • Publication number: 20220404755
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of members for forming an image; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a sonic wave; a receiving unit configured to receive a first sonic wave that has been transmitted from the transmitting unit and has passed through a sheet and a second sonic wave that is generated from at least one of the plurality of members; a detection unit configured to detect information regarding a type or state of the sheet based on the first sonic wave; and a determination unit configured to determine a state of a member that has generated the second sonic wave based on the second sonic wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Yohei Suzuki, Junya Azami, Seiji Hara, Atsunobu Mori, Masafumi Monde, Tatsuya Hotogi, Hirotaka Shiomichi
  • Patent number: 11514283
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus including, a first variable mechanism that varies from a first state to a second state or from the second state to the first state when physically operated by a user, a first detection unit configured to detect the variation of a state of the first variable mechanism, and a sound collection unit. The image forming system further includes a generation unit configured to generate, when the variation is detected by the first detection unit, first statistical information regarding at least one sound wave obtained by the sound collection unit in a period based on a timing when the variation is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Suzuki, Seiji Hara, Masafumi Monde, Hiroshi Hagiwara, Yoshitaka Zaitsu, Hiromitsu Kumada
  • Publication number: 20220299924
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first detector detecting an operation sound based on a sound wave received by a receiver; a second detector detecting basis weight of recording material based on an ultrasonic wave transmitted from a transmitter and received by the receiver; a switching unit that switches destination of a reception signal from the receiver between a first path to the first detector and a second path to the second detector; and a controller that controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the first path at a first timing and to the second path at a second timing. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the controller controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the second path at the first timing or to the first path at the second timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Atsunobu Mori, Yohei Suzuki, Seiji Hara, Yasuhisa Matsumoto, Junya Azami, Masafumi Monde, Hirotaka Shiomichi, Tatsuya Hotogi
  • Patent number: 11442387
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of members for forming an image; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a sonic wave; a receiving unit configured to receive a first sonic wave that has been transmitted from the transmitting unit and has passed through a sheet and a second sonic wave that is generated from at least one of the plurality of members; a detection unit configured to detect information regarding a type or state of the sheet based on the first sonic wave; and a determination unit configured to determine a state of a member that has generated the second sonic wave based on the second sonic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Suzuki, Junya Azami, Seiji Hara, Atsunobu Mori, Masafumi Monde, Tatsuya Hotogi, Hirotaka Shiomichi
  • Publication number: 20220276600
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having a plurality of members, a control unit, and a sound collecting unit. The control unit controls operations of the plurality of members in a first operation mode in which the image forming unit forms an image on a recording material. The sound collecting unit collects a sound that arises in the image forming apparatus during the first operation mode execution to generate a sound signal. When it is determined, based on the generated sound signal, that an abnormal sound has arisen, the control unit determines a source of the abnormal sound by transitioning to a second operation mode after the first operation mode has ended and causing, in the second operation mode, one or more members, from the plurality of members, that are possible sources of the abnormal sound to operate separately from the remaining plurality of members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Seiji Hara, Yohei Suzuki, Masafumi Monde, Hiroshi Hagiwara, Yoshitaka Zaitsu, Hiromitsu Kumada
  • Patent number: 11385587
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first detector detecting an operation sound based on a sound wave received by a receiver; a second detector detecting basis weight of recording material based on an ultrasonic wave transmitted from a transmitter and received by the receiver; a switching unit that switches destination of a reception signal from the receiver between a first path to the first detector and a second path to the second detector; and a controller that controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the first path at a first timing and to the second path at a second timing. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the controller controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the second path at the first timing or to the first path at the second timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsunobu Mori, Yohei Suzuki, Seiji Hara, Yasuhisa Matsumoto, Junya Azami, Masafumi Monde, Hirotaka Shiomichi, Tatsuya Hotogi
  • Publication number: 20220197204
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a stack portion having recording materials, an image forming unit, a basis weight detection unit, an operating sound detection unit, and a mode selection unit. The basis weight detection unit detects a recording material basis weight based on an ultrasonic wave. The operating sound detection unit detect an abnormality of a generated operating sound. The mode selection unit selects, for each recording material fed to the image forming unit, between transmitting to the basis weight detection unit a first instruction for detecting the recording material basis weight and transmitting to the operating sound detection unit a second instruction for detecting the operating sound abnormality. In determining an interval at which each second instruction is transmitted, the mode selection unit determines the interval so that the interval and a cycle, in which properties of recording materials on the stack portion are repeated, do not continuously coincide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hagiwara, Naoto Tsuchihashi, Yohei Suzuki, Seiji Hara, Yoshitaka Zaitsu, Masafumi Monde, Hiromitsu Kumada
  • Patent number: 11360420
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having a plurality of members, a control unit, and a sound collecting unit. The control unit controls operations of the plurality of members in a first operation mode in which the image forming unit forms an image on a recording material. The sound collecting unit collects a sound that arises in the image forming apparatus during the first operation mode execution to generate a sound signal. When it is determined, based on the generated sound signal, that an abnormal sound has arisen, the control unit determines a source of the abnormal sound by transitioning to a second operation mode after the first operation mode has ended and causing, in the second operation mode, one or more members, from the plurality of members, that are possible sources of the abnormal sound to operate separately from the remaining plurality of members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Hara, Yohei Suzuki, Masafumi Monde, Hiroshi Hagiwara, Yoshitaka Zaitsu, Hiromitsu Kumada
  • Patent number: 11221584
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus, having: a power source; a first coupling member configured to be rotated by a driving force transferred from the power source; and a cartridge including a second coupling member configured to rotate in a state of being adsorbed to the first coupling member, and a rotating member connected with the second coupling member, wherein the first coupling member has a first driving force transfer surface which is perpendicular to a rotation axis of the first coupling member, the second coupling member has a second driving force transfer surface which is perpendicular to a rotation axis of the second coupling member, and the driving force is transferred from the first coupling member to the second coupling member in a state where an adsorption force is generated mutually between the first driving force transfer surface and the second driving force transfer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kojiro Yasui, Seiji Hara, Hiroki Ogino
  • Publication number: 20210311425
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having a plurality of members, a control unit, and a sound collecting unit. The control unit controls operations of the plurality of members in a first operation mode in which the image forming unit forms an image on a recording material. The sound collecting unit collects a sound that arises in the image forming apparatus during the first operation mode execution to generate a sound signal. When it is determined, based on the generated sound signal, that an abnormal sound has arisen, the control unit determines a source of the abnormal sound by transitioning to a second operation mode after the first operation mode has ended and causing, in the second operation mode, one or more members, from the plurality of members, that are possible sources of the abnormal sound to operate separately from the remaining plurality of members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Seiji Hara, Yohei Suzuki, Masafumi Monde, Hiroshi Hagiwara, Yoshitaka Zaitsu, Hiromitsu Kumada
  • Publication number: 20210311424
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first detector detecting an operation sound based on a sound wave received by a receiver; a second detector detecting basis weight of recording material based on an ultrasonic wave transmitted from a transmitter and received by the receiver; a switching unit that switches destination of a reception signal from the receiver between a first path to the first detector and a second path to the second detector; and a controller that controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the first path at a first timing and to the second path at a second timing. When a predetermined condition is satisfied, the controller controls the switching unit such that the reception signal is output to the second path at the first timing or to the first path at the second timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Atsunobu Mori, Yohei Suzuki, Seiji Hara, Yasuhisa Matsumoto, Junya Azami, Masafumi Monde, Hirotaka Shiomichi, Tatsuya Hotogi
  • Publication number: 20210241058
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming system that includes an image forming apparatus including, a first variable mechanism that varies from a first state to a second state or from the second state to the first state when physically operated by a user, a first detection unit configured to detect the variation of a state of the first variable mechanism, and a sound collection unit. The image forming system further includes a generation unit configured to generate, when the variation is detected by the first detection unit, first statistical information regarding at least one sound wave obtained by the sound collection unit in a period based on a timing when the variation is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Yohei Suzuki, Seiji Hara, Masafumi Monde, Hiroshi Hagiwara, Yoshitaka Zaitsu, Hiromitsu Kumada
  • Publication number: 20210132535
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of members for forming an image; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a sonic wave; a receiving unit configured to receive a first sonic wave that has been transmitted from the transmitting unit and has passed through a sheet and a second sonic wave that is generated from at least one of the plurality of members; a detection unit configured to detect information regarding a type or state of the sheet based on the first sonic wave; and a determination unit configured to determine a state of a member that has generated the second sonic wave based on the second sonic wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Yohei Suzuki, Junya Azami, Seiji Hara, Atsunobu Mori, Masafumi Monde, Tatsuya Hotogi, Hirotaka Shiomichi