Patents by Inventor Shigeo Maeda

Shigeo Maeda 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: 10315170
    Abstract: A fine bubble-containing liquid generating apparatus includes a generator including a mixing nozzle for leading in gas and pressurized liquid and a fine-bubble generating nozzle for discharging liquid that contains fine bubbles of the led-in gas, a circulation passage for returning liquid discharged from the fine-bubble generating nozzle to the mixing nozzle in a state in which the liquid is isolated from outside air, an extraction part for extracting, as a fine-bubble containing liquid, part of liquid circulating through the generator and the circulation passage, and a replenisher for replenishing the circulation passage with liquid to maintain the amount of liquid circulating through the generator and the circulation passage. With this configuration, it is possible to continuously generate a fine-bubble containing liquid that contains a high density of fine bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: IDEC Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeo Maeda, Masakazu Kashiwa, Katsuhisa Ida
  • Publication number: 20170087522
    Abstract: A fine bubble-containing liquid generating apparatus includes a generator including a mixing nozzle for leading in gas and pressurized liquid and a fine-bubble generating nozzle for discharging liquid that contains fine bubbles of the led-in gas, a circulation passage for returning liquid discharged from the fine-bubble generating nozzle to the mixing nozzle in a state in which the liquid is isolated from outside air, an extraction part for extracting, as a fine-bubble containing liquid, part of liquid circulating through the generator and the circulation passage, and a replenisher for replenishing the circulation passage with liquid to maintain the amount of liquid circulating through the generator and the circulation passage. With this configuration, it is possible to continuously generate a fine-bubble containing liquid that contains a high density of fine bubbles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Shigeo MAEDA, Masakazu KASHIWA, Katsuhisa IDA
  • Patent number: 9025794
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a circuit board (1200?), the circuit board including a first diaphragm (714-1) that forms a first microphone, a second diaphragm (714-2) that forms a second microphone, and a differential signal generation circuit (720) that receives a first voltage signal obtained by the first microphone and a second voltage signal obtained by the second microphone, and generates a differential signal that indicates a difference between the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda, Hideki Choji
  • Patent number: 8731693
    Abstract: A voice input device includes a first microphone (710-1) that includes a first diaphragm, a second microphone (710-2) that includes a second diaphragm, and a differential signal generation section (720) that generates a differential signal that indicates a difference between a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm being disposed so that a noise intensity ratio is smaller than an input voice intensity ratio (input voice component intensity ratio), and the differential signal generation section (720) including a gain section (760) that amplifies the first voltage signal by a predetermined gain, and a differential signal output section (740) that generates and outputs a differential signal that indicates a difference between the first voltage signal amplified by the gain section and the second voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda, Hideki Choji
  • Patent number: 8638955
    Abstract: A voice input device includes a first microphone (710-1) that includes a first diaphragm, a second microphone (710-2) that includes a second diaphragm, and a differential signal generation section (720) that generates a differential signal that indicates a difference between a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm being disposed so that a noise intensity ratio is smaller than an input voice intensity ratio (input voice component intensity ratio), and the differential signal generation section (720) including a delay section (730), and a differential signal output section (740) that generates and outputs a differential signal based on a signal delayed by the delay section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Shigeo Maeda, Takeshi Inoda, Hideki Choji
  • Publication number: 20130329397
    Abstract: A laser lighting module includes a base part, a laser diode which is a blue laser device, a substrate with which the laser diode is in contact, a ceramic phosphor which reflects light entering from the laser diode to thereby change a direction of the light and is excited by the light to generate yellow fluorescence, and a lens for adjusting luminous intensity distribution of light emitted from the ceramic phosphor. The substrate is formed of a material which is thin and has excellent thermal conductivity, and is in surface contact with the laser diode and the base part. In the laser lighting module, since the substrate serves as a device heat radiator, it is possible to easily remove the heat generated by the laser diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Hirokazu SHIMIZU, Tetsuo TANIUCHI, Toshihiro FUJITA, Jun TOKUDA, Shigeo MAEDA, Hisataka ITO, Hiroyuki KATAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20130329416
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a laser lighting module, an LED lighting module, and a sensor module. The laser lighting module includes a base part, a laser diode mounted on a substrate fixed on the base part, a ceramic phosphor upon which a blue laser light from the laser diode is incident, and a lens for adjusting luminous intensity distribution of light emitted from the ceramic phosphor, and is mounted on a module mount part of a mount body part. The LED lighting module and the sensor module are also mounted on other module mount parts of the mount body part, respectively. Thus, by mounting various combinations of the laser lighting modules and the LED lighting modules on the mount body part provided with a plurality of module mount parts, it is possible to manufacture lighting apparatuses for various uses at low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Hirokazu SHIMIZU, Tetsuo TANIUCHI, Toshihiro FUJITA, Jun TOKUDA, Shigeo MAEDA, Shigetoshi FUJITANI, Hisataka ITO, Hiroyuki KATAYAMA
  • Patent number: 8379884
    Abstract: A sound signal transmitter-receiver includes a differential microphone for receiving sounds respectively at first and second points to convert the receiving sounds into a transmission sound signal; a transmission-reception unit for receiving an incoming signal as a reception sound signal; an addition unit for adding the reception sound signal from the transmission-reception unit and the transmission sound signal to produce an addition signal; and a speaker outputting sound based on the addition signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Fuminori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8249273
    Abstract: A sound input device includes a differential microphone, configured to receive sound including noise, and generate a first signal in accordance with the sound; a detector, configured to detect the noise, and generate a second signal in accordance with the detected noise; and a controller, configured to control at least one of suppression of high-frequency components of the first signal and changing of a frequency band to be suppressed of the first signal based on the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Shigeo Maeda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8135144
    Abstract: A microphone system, includes: a housing, adapted to be placed in a reference position relative to a sound source; a first microphone, configured to receive sound from the sound source at a first position within the housing; a second microphone, configured to receive sound from the sound source at a second position within the housing; and a differential signal generator, wherein: the first and second positions are arranged on a first line; and the first line perpendicularly intersects a second line that is extended from the sound source at a third position which is not between the first and second positions, and obliquely intersects a third line that is extended from the sound source at a fourth position which is between the first and second positions, when the housing is placed at the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Fuminori Tanaka, Toshimi Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 8118965
    Abstract: A manufacturing method for variable shape mirrors, which is suitable for mass production, includes a bonding step for sandwiching support pillars and piezoelectric elements between a support substrate and a mirror substrate, and bonding at least the support substrate and the support pillar to each other, the support substrate and the piezoelectric element to each other, and the mirror substrate and the support pillars to each other, respectively, and an elastic film forming step for forming a flat elastic film on the outer surface of the mirror substrate, and a reflection film forming step for forming a reflection film on the elastic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Maeda, Katuhiko Tanaka, Akira Ishii, Susumu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8098853
    Abstract: A microphone unit includes: a partition member, including a vibration film configured to be vibrated by sound; a housing, defining an inner space, and formed with a first opening and a second opening, the inner space being divided into a first space and a second space by the partition member, the first space adapted to be communicated with an outer space via the first opening, and the second space adapted to be communicated with the outer space via the second opening; and a shutter, configured to close one of the first and second openings; and an amplifier, configured to: amplify an electric signal at a first gain when the shutter closes the one of the first and second openings; and amplify the electric signal at a second gain that is larger than the first gain when first and second openings are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Publication number: 20100280825
    Abstract: A voice input device includes a first microphone (710-1) that includes a first diaphragm, a second microphone (710-2) that includes a second diaphragm, and a differential signal generation section (720) that generates a differential signal that indicates a difference between a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm being disposed so that a noise intensity ratio is smaller than an input voice intensity ratio (input voice component intensity ratio), and the differential signal generation section (720) including a gain section (760) that amplifies the first voltage signal by a predetermined gain, and a differential signal output section (740) that generates and outputs a differential signal that indicates a difference between the first voltage signal amplified by the gain section and the second voltage signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda, Hideki Choji
  • Publication number: 20100266146
    Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a circuit board (1200?), the circuit board including a first diaphragm (714-1) that forms a first microphone, a second diaphragm (714-2) that forms a second microphone, and a differential signal generation circuit (720) that receives a first voltage signal obtained by the first microphone and a second voltage signal obtained by the second microphone, and generates a differential signal that indicates a difference between the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicants: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda, Hideki Choji
  • Publication number: 20100260346
    Abstract: A voice input device includes a first microphone (710-1) that includes a first diaphragm, a second microphone (710-2) that includes a second diaphragm, and a differential signal generation section (720) that generates a differential signal that indicates a difference between a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm being disposed so that a noise intensity ratio is smaller than an input voice intensity ratio (input voice component intensity ratio), and the differential signal generation section (720) including a delay section (730), and a differential signal output section (740) that generates and outputs a differential signal based on a signal delayed by the delay section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Shigeo Maeda, Takeshi Inoda, Hideki Choji
  • Patent number: 7635191
    Abstract: Manufacturing method for variable shape mirrors suitable for mass production includes steps: for forming first grooves and second grooves along boundaries between areas to be variable shape mirrors on a surface of first wafer to be support substrate and a surface of second wafer to be mirror substrate; for arranging first and second wafer so that support pillars and piezoelectric elements are sandwiched between first and second wafer at areas with surface on which second grooves are formed facing inward for bonding; for dividing second wafer into mirror substrates by flattening process of outer surface of second wafer until at least reaching second groove; for dividing first wafer into the support substrates by breaking first wafer along first grooves; and for forming reflection film on outer surface of each of mirror substrates obtained by the dividing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Maeda, Katushiko Tanaka, Akira Ishii, Susumu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7622854
    Abstract: In a piezoelectric element having a substrate, a lower electrode layered on the substrate, a piezoelectric body made of ceramic layered on top of the lower electrode and an upper electrode layered on the piezoelectric body, wherein a first metal layer is provided between the substrate and the lower electrode, a second metal layer is provided between the lower electrode and the piezoelectric body, and the first metal layer and the second metal layer are made of a metal selected from among metals of which the ionization tendency is not less than that of Cu, oxides of metals of which the ionization tendency is not less than that of Cu, and alloys of metals of which the ionization tendency is not less than that of Cu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Murayama, Shigeo Maeda
  • Publication number: 20090185696
    Abstract: A sound signal transmitter-receiver includes a differential microphone for receiving sounds respectively at first and second points to convert the receiving sounds into a transmission sound signal; a transmission-reception unit for receiving an incoming signal as a reception sound signal; an addition unit for adding the reception sound signal from the transmission-reception unit and the transmission sound signal to produce an addition signal; and a speaker outputting sound based on the addition signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Fuminori Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20090161886
    Abstract: A microphone unit includes: a partition member, including a vibration film configured to be vibrated by sound; a housing, defining an inner space, and formed with a first opening and a second opening, the inner space being divided into a first space and a second space by the partition member, the first space adapted to be communicated with an outer space via the first opening, and the second space adapted to be communicated with the outer space via the second opening; and a shutter, configured to close one of the first and second openings; and an amplifier, configured to: amplify an electric signal at a first gain when the shutter closes the one of the first and second openings; and amplify the electric signal at a second gain that is larger than the first gain when first and second openings are opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicants: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Publication number: 20090147968
    Abstract: A sound input device includes a differential microphone, configured to receive sound including noise, and generate a first signal in accordance with the sound; a detector, configured to detect the noise, and generate a second signal in accordance with the detected noise; and a controller, configured to control at least one of suppression of high-frequency components of the first signal and changing of a frequency band to be suppressed of the first signal based on the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicants: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD., FUNAI ELECTRIC ADVANCED APPLIED TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi INODA, Ryusuke HORIBE, Fuminori TANAKA, Shigeo MAEDA, Rikuo TAKANO, Kiyoshi SUGIYAMA, Toshimi FUKUOKA, Masatoshi ONO