Patents by Inventor Takaaki Muramatsu

Takaaki Muramatsu 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: 9958474
    Abstract: A pointer is rotational relative to the screen. A driver unit rotates the pointer. An imaging device detects an image of the pointer sends a signal of the image. A controller receives the signal of the image from the imaging device. The screen indicates a graphic. The controller modifies the graphic according to the signal of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ke Bi, Takaaki Muramatsu, Jill DeGowske
  • Publication number: 20170075437
    Abstract: A pointer is rotational relative to the screen. A driver unit rotates the pointer. An imaging device detects an image of the pointer sends a signal of the image. A controller receives the signal of the image from the imaging device. The screen indicates a graphic. The controller modifies the graphic according to the signal of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Ke BI, Takaaki MURAMATSU, Jill DeGowske
  • Patent number: 9072206
    Abstract: A light source device includes a light source, a holder, and a lead board. The holder has a first face to hold the light source. The lead board has a first electrode connected to the light source through a solder, a second electrode to be connected to a circuit board, a first connector connected to the second electrode, and a second connector to connect the first electrode and the first connector. The first electrode and the first connector are exposed from the first face of the holder. The second connector is unable to be exposed from the first face of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Muramatsu, Kazumasa Kurokawa, Masaki Itoh
  • Patent number: 8558683
    Abstract: A display apparatus for a vehicle includes: a display element; an image generation element for generating a vehicle image, an analog image and an indication image; and a display controller. The analog image includes an indication position and multiple indexes arranged on an upside and downside of the indication position. The indication image shows the current vehicle speed at the indication position. Each index shows a corresponding vehicle speed. Display dimensions of each index are inverse proportion to the corresponding vehicle speed, and a distance between the indication position and each index is proportion to a difference between the current vehicle speed and the corresponding vehicle speed. The display controller controls the display element to display the indication image at the indication position of the analog image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoichi Nishikawa, Yasuhisa Yamashita, Hiroki Matsui, Takaaki Muramatsu, Kenichirou Karikomi, Tomoyuki Miyagaki, Hitoshi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8466633
    Abstract: An illumination controlling device for a vehicle includes a controlling portion to change a luminance phase of a meter based on operation of an operating portion and to maintain a luminance phase of a lighting while the lighting is extinguished. The controlling portion changes the luminance phase of the meter based on the operation of the operating portion and changes the luminance phase of the lighting to correspond to the luminance phase of the meter if the operating portion is operated in a state that the luminance phase is different between the meter and the lighting while the lighting is illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Sugiura, Takaaki Muramatsu, Atsushi Nishiyama, Ryuji Suzuki, Shinji Suganuma
  • Patent number: 8160298
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control a display condition of the display panel by successively switching a plurality of frames, thereby to display a pointer image indicating a pointer and a path image indicating a path of motion of the pointer image. The path image of a first frame, which is any one of the plurality of frames, is provided continuously from a second location where the pointer image of a second frame, which is another one of the multiple frames and immediately before the first frame, is displayed to a first location where the pointer image of the first frame is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Okumura, Ryoichi Nishikawa, Takaaki Muramatsu, Shinji Suganuma
  • Publication number: 20110204788
    Abstract: An illumination controlling device for a vehicle includes a controlling portion to change a luminance phase of a meter based on operation of an operating portion and to maintain a luminance phase of a lighting while the lighting is extinguished. The controlling portion changes the luminance phase of the meter based on the operation of the operating portion and changes the luminance phase of the lighting to correspond to the luminance phase of the meter if the operating portion is operated in a state that the luminance phase is different between the meter and the lighting while the lighting is illuminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayuki Sugiura, Takaaki Muramatsu, Atsushi Nishiyama, Ryuji Suzuki, Shinji Suganuma
  • Patent number: 7997776
    Abstract: An indicating instrument for a vehicle has a display board and a light modulation member disposed to cover a surface of the display board. When a condition that an illumination intensity of the display board is lower than a threshold value has continued for a first time period, a light transmissivity of the light modulation member is controlled to a first level so that a driver can easily see the display board. When a condition that the illumination intensity of the display board is equal to or higher than the threshold value has continued for a second time period, the light transmissivity of the light modulation member is controlled to a second level that is lower than the first level to restrict entry of external light to the display board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Muramatsu, Toshiki Wada
  • Publication number: 20100253496
    Abstract: A display apparatus for a vehicle includes: a display element; an image generation element for generating a vehicle image, an analog image and an indication image; and a display controller. The analog image includes an indication position and multiple indexes arranged on an upside and downside of the indication position. The indication image shows the current vehicle speed at the indication position. Each index shows a corresponding vehicle speed. Display dimensions of each index are inverse proportion to the corresponding vehicle speed, and a distance between the indication position and each index is proportion to a difference between the current vehicle speed and the corresponding vehicle speed. The display controller controls the display element to display the indication image at the indication position of the analog image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoichi Nishikawa, Yasuhisa Yamashita, Hiroki Matsui, Takaaki Muramatsu, Kenichirou Karikomi, Tomoyuki Miyagaki, Hitoshi Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20100232169
    Abstract: A light source device includes a light source, a holder, and a lead board. The holder has a first face to hold the light source. The lead board has a first electrode connected to the light source through a solder, a second electrode to be connected to a circuit board, a first connector connected to the second electrode, and a second connector to connect the first electrode and the first connector. The first electrode and the first connector are exposed from the first face of the holder. The second connector is unable to be exposed from the first face of the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Muramatsu, Kazumasa Kurokawa, Masaki Itoh
  • Patent number: 7523798
    Abstract: The duct comprises the upper member and the lower member, which are formed separately and assembled integrally by being attached to one another. There is provided the seal member to interconnect the opening at the lower member and the intercooler, which is pressed against the upper face of the intercooler. The front side of the lower member is supported at the shroud panel, and the rear side of the upper panel is supported at the cowl panel. Thus, the rear attachment portion is detached earlier than the front attachment portion at the pedestrian's hit. Accordingly, the duct can be split surely and the engine hood can be allowed to be properly deformed without being prevented, so that the protection of the head of pedestrians can be attained properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Muramatsu, Takashi Kadowaki, Noriaki Fujita
  • Publication number: 20090102787
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control a display condition of the display panel by successively switching a plurality of frames, thereby to display a pointer image indicating a pointer and a path image indicating a path of motion of the pointer image. The path image of a first frame, which is any one of the plurality of frames, is provided continuously from a second location where the pointer image of a second frame, which is another one of the multiple frames and immediately before the first frame, is displayed to a first location where the pointer image of the first frame is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro OKUMURA, Ryoichi Nishikawa, Takaaki Muramatsu, Shinji Suganuma
  • Publication number: 20060215412
    Abstract: An indicating instrument for a vehicle has a display board and a light modulation member disposed to cover a surface of the display board. When a condition that an illumination intensity of the display board is lower than a threshold value has continued for a first time period, a light transmissivity of the light modulation member is controlled to a first level so that a driver can easily see the display board. When a condition that the illumination intensity of the display board is equal to or higher than the threshold value has continued for a second time period, the light transmissivity of the light modulation member is controlled to a second level that is lower than the first level to restrict entry of external light to the display board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Muramatsu, Toshiki Wada
  • Publication number: 20060086548
    Abstract: The duct comprises the upper member and the lower member, which are formed separately and assembled integrally by being attached to one another. There is provided the seal member to interconnect the opening at the lower member and the intercooler, which is pressed against the upper face of the intercooler. The front side of the lower member is supported at the shroud panel, and the rear side of the upper panel is supported at the cowl panel. Thus, the rear attachment portion is detached earlier than the front attachment portion at the pedestrian's hit. Accordingly, the duct can be split surely and the engine hood can be allowed to be properly deformed without being prevented, so that the protection of the head of pedestrians can be attained properly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Muramatsu, Takashi Kadowaki, Noriaki Fujita
  • Patent number: 6986260
    Abstract: An electric fan system has a first electric blower 10, which utilizes a brushless motor, and a second electric blower, which utilizes a brushed motor, for distributing the cooling air to the radiator and the condenser. The system has an electronic engine control unit which activates only the first electric blower when it determines that the cooling water temperature is less than T2, and activates both the first and second electric blowers when it determines that the cooling water temperature is T2 or higher. The water temperature is based on a detection output from a cooling water temperature sensor. Thus, since the electric blower is not activated unless the cooling water temperature becomes T2 or higher, use of the brushed motor is limited and its life is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignees: DENSO Corporation, Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Oda, Kuzuhiro Takeuchi, Tatsuhiro Matsuki, Takaaki Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 6966663
    Abstract: An automotive instrument includes a light transmission controller and a mode selecting switch. The controller controls light transmission of a light-controllable film according to a selected position of the mode selecting switch. The mode selecting switch has three positions: two manual mode positions and an automatic mode position. The manual mode positions are provided for adjusting the light transmission to a fixed level. The automatic mode position is provided for controlling the light transmission so that a dial plate maintains a predetermined level of visibility. The dial plate can be switched between different appearances. This switching can be performed during the vehicle is in operation based on the driver's preference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Wada, Takaaki Muramatsu, Katsuhiro Kumazawa
  • Patent number: 6886970
    Abstract: An indicating instrument for a vehicle includes a dial plate, a light modulation member disposed on the dial plate and a controller for controlling the light transmissivity. The light modulation member has variable light transmissivity, and the controller changes the light transmissivity according to a condition of the vehicle when operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Wada, Katsuhiro Kumazawa, Takaaki Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20050005620
    Abstract: An electric fan system has a first electric blower 10, which utilizes a brushless motor, and a second electric blower, which utilizes a brushed motor, for distributing the cooling air to the radiator and the condenser. The system has an electronic engine control unit which activates only the first electric blower when it determines that the cooling water temperature is less than T2, and activates both the first and second electric blowers when it determines that the cooling water temperature is T2 or higher. The water temperature is based on a detection output from a cooling water temperature sensor. Thus, since the electric blower is not activated unless the cooling water temperature becomes T2 or higher, use of the brushed motor is limited and its life is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Inventors: Shinichi Oda, Kazuhiro Takeuchi, Tatsuhiro Matsuki, Takaaki Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20040125587
    Abstract: An automotive instrument includes a light transmission controller and a mode selecting switch. The controller controls light transmission of a light-controllable film according to a selected position of the mode selecting switch. The mode selecting switch has three positions: two manual mode positions and an automatic mode position. The manual mode positions are provided for adjusting the light transmission to a fixed level. The automatic mode position is provided for controlling the light transmission so that a dial plate maintains a predetermined level of visibility. The dial plate can be switched between different appearances. This switching can be performed during the vehicle is in operation based on the driver's preference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Toshiki Wada, Takaaki Muramatsu, Katsuhiro Kumazawa
  • Publication number: 20030043049
    Abstract: An indicating instrument for a vehicle includes a dial plate, a light modulation member disposed on the dial plate and a controller for controlling the light transmissivity. The light modulation member has variable light transmissivity, and the controller changes the light transmissivity according to a condition of the vehicle when operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Toshiki Wada, Katsuhiro Kumazawa, Takaaki Muramatsu