Patents by Inventor Takafumi Arai

Takafumi Arai 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: 20240112509
    Abstract: A vehicle is a vehicle that is equipped with an illumination device in a vehicle cabin and that is capable of traveling in an EV mode, the vehicle being configured to change a manner of luminescence of the illumination device when the vehicle enters a low emission zone (LEZ) where the vehicle needs to travel in the EV mode, and to cause a driver to perceive the entrance. For the change in the manner of the luminescence, for example, the color of the luminescence of the illumination device may be changed from a regular color to a specific color. By the change in the manner of the luminescence of the illumination device, it is possible to cause the driver to sensorily recognize the entrance to the low emission zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasunori WAKAMATSU, Masatoshi ISHINO, Yuuki ARAI, Takafumi EGUCHI, Akihiro KUSADA
  • Patent number: 10098210
    Abstract: A luminaire includes: a main body having a placement surface on which a light-emitting module is placed to emit light forward; and a wireless communication module which receives, by wireless communication, a control signal for controlling the light-emitting module. The wireless communication module: includes a substrate, and a transceiver which is provided on the substrate and receives the control signal. The wireless communication module is secured to the main body in such an orientation that the transceiver is located forward of the main body and the substrate intersects the placement surface of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takafumi Arai
  • Patent number: 10021768
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a light source unit including a light emitter and a first casing in which the light emitter is housed; a communication unit including a radio receiver which receives a wireless signal for controlling a light emitting state of the light emitter and second casing in which the radio receiver is housed; a first power line including a plug and connected to the communication unit; and a power source which generates power for causing the light emitter to emit light, using power received by the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takafumi Arai
  • Publication number: 20180091222
    Abstract: A luminaire includes: a main body to which an illumination unit is attached to emit light downward; a projecting portion that projects laterally from the main body when seen from below; and a wireless communication module that receives, by wireless communication, a control signal for controlling operation of the luminaire. The wireless communication module is located lower than a top surface of the projecting portion, and is secured to the projecting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takafumi ARAI
  • Publication number: 20180092192
    Abstract: A luminaire includes: a main body having a placement surface on which a light-emitting module is placed to emit light forward; and a wireless communication module which receives, by wireless communication, a control signal for controlling the light-emitting module. The wireless communication module: includes a substrate, and a transceiver which is provided on the substrate and receives the control signal. The wireless communication module is secured to the main body in such an orientation that the transceiver is located forward of the main body and the substrate intersects the placement surface of the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takafumi ARAI
  • Publication number: 20170311422
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a light source unit, including a light emitter and a first casing in which the light emitter is housed; a communication unit including a radio receiver which receives a wireless signal for controlling a light emitting state of the light emitter and second casing in which the radio receiver is housed; a first power line including a plug and connected to the communication unit; and a power source which generates power for causing the light emitter to emit light, using power received by the plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takafumi ARAI
  • Patent number: 8517575
    Abstract: An illumination device includes: a main body supported by a support member; an upper cover portion for covering an upper portion of the main body; and an LED light emitting part and a power supply unit, both of which are fixed to a lower side of the upper cover portion. The upper cover portion has a plurality of radiation fins provided on a top portion thereof and a plurality of grooves defined between the adjacent radiation fins, the grooves being inclined downward toward a peripheral edge of the upper cover portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Arai
  • Patent number: 8491167
    Abstract: An illumination device includes: a main body supported by a support member; an upper cover portion for covering an upper portion of the main body; and an LED light emitting part and a power supply unit, both of which are fixed to a lower side of the upper cover portion. The upper cover portion has a plurality of radiation fins provided on a top portion thereof and a plurality of grooves defined between the adjacent radiation fins, the grooves being inclined downward toward a peripheral edge of the upper cover portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Takafumi Arai
  • Publication number: 20110235343
    Abstract: An illumination device includes: a main body supported by a support member; an upper cover portion for covering an upper portion of the main body; and an LED light emitting part and a power supply unit, both of which are fixed to a lower side of the upper cover portion. The upper cover portion has a plurality of radiation fins provided on a top portion thereof and a plurality of grooves defined between the adjacent radiation fins, the grooves being inclined downward toward a peripheral edge of the upper cover portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takafumi ARAI
  • Patent number: 7843778
    Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes: a section for controlling an actuator by generating a voltage indication value indicative of a drive voltage applied to the actuator driving an objective lens; an section for periodically detecting the voltage indication value; a section for going into an excess detection mode when the voltage indication value outside a tolerable range is detected, and starting a re-detection period when the voltage indication value inside the tolerable range is detected, and remaining in the excess detection mode and extending the re-detection period when the voltage indication value outside the tolerable range is detected during the re-detection period, and stopping the excess detection mode when the voltage indication value outside the tolerable range is not detected again during the re-detection period; and an section for limiting the voltage indication value when staying in the excess detection mode for longer than a fail-safe action start period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ryohei Yasuda, Takafumi Arai, Yukihiko Okada
  • Publication number: 20060277559
    Abstract: An optical disc apparatus includes: a section for controlling an actuator by generating a voltage indication value indicative of a drive voltage applied to the actuator driving an objective lens; an section for periodically detecting the voltage indication value; a section for going into an excess detection mode when the voltage indication value outside a tolerable range is detected, and starting a re-detection period when the voltage indication value inside the tolerable range is detected, and remaining in the excess detection mode and extending the re-detection period when the voltage indication value outside the tolerable range is detected during the re-detection period, and stopping the excess detection mode when the voltage indication value outside the tolerable range is not detected again during the re-detection period; and an section for limiting the voltage indication value when staying in the excess detection mode for longer than a fail-safe action start period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ryohei Yasuda, Takafumi Arai, Yukihiko Okada
  • Patent number: 6317399
    Abstract: Vibrations transferred to the outside are lessened and high performance against external vibrations and impact is maintained. Further, data is recorded and reproduced satisfactorily. A CD-ROM drive device is provided which is capable of reproducing data at a standard speed, a quadruple speed and a sextuple speed. When a disk is mounted to the CD-ROM drive device, TOC information is read in a playback state at the standard speed (ST1). Next, the disk is placed in a playback state at the sextuple speed and is set to a state held at a predetermined address position (ST2). It is distinguished using a tracking error signal, a control signal for a spindle motor, etc. whether the disk is either an eccentric disk or an unbalance disk (ST3). When the disk is found not to be either the eccentric disk or the unbalance disk, a playback speed is set to the sextuple speed. On the other hand, when the disk is found to be either the eccentric disk or the unbalance disk, the playback speed is set to the quadruple speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Ohtani, Takeshi Kunishima, Takafumi Arai, Katsunori Kitaru, Wataru Kokubo
  • Patent number: 6195322
    Abstract: Vibrations transferred to the outside are lessened and high performance against external vibrations and impact is maintained. Further, data is recorded and reproduced satisfactorily. A CD-ROM drive device is provided which is capable of reproducing data at a standard speed, a quadruple speed and a sextuple speed. When a disk is mounted to the CD-ROM drive device, TOC information is read in a playback state at the standard speed. Next, the disk is placed in a playback state at the sextuple speed and is set to a state held at a predetermined address position. It is distinguished using a tracking error signal, a control signal for a spindle motor, and so on whether the disk is either an eccentric disk or an unbalance disk. When the disk is found to be neither the eccentric disk nor the unbalance disk, a playback speed is set to the sextuple speed. On the other hand, when the disk is found to be either the eccentric disk or the unbalance disk, the playback speed is set to the quadruple speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hisao Ohtani, Takeshi Kunishima, Takafumi Arai, Katsunori Kitaru, Wataru Kokubo