Patents by Inventor Takuma Nakano
Takuma Nakano 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).
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Publication number: 20230097549Abstract: A power supply unit includes a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether an aerosol source and an flavor source contain menthol, a mode of discharging to a first heater in a first state in which it is determined that only the flavor source contains menthol is different from a mode of discharging to the first heater in a second state in which it is determined that both the aerosol source and the flavor source contain menthol and a mode of discharging to the first heater in a third state in which it is determined that only the aerosol source contains menthol, and/or a mode of discharging to a second heater in the first state is different from a mode of discharging to the second heater in the second state and a mode of discharging to the second heater in the third state.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Yutaka KAIHATSU, Hirofumi FUJIKURA, Takuma NAKANO
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Publication number: 20230095903Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol generation device includes a notification unit and a controller. The controller is configured to execute flavor information acquisition processing of acquiring information on whether an aerosol source and a flavor source contain menthol respectively. The controller is configured execute the flavor information acquisition processing when at least one of a change from a state in which a first load is not connected to a first connector to a state in which the first load is connected to the first connector and a change from a state in which the second load is not capable of heating the flavor source to a state in which the second load is capable of heating the flavor source is detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Yutaka KAIHATSU, Hirofumi FUJIKURA, Takuma NAKANO, Keiji MARUBASHI, Ikuo FUJINAGA, Hajime FUJITA
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Publication number: 20230096818Abstract: A power source unit, for an aerosol inhaler causing a flavor source to pass through an aerosol generated by heating an aerosol source to add a flavor component of the flavor source to the aerosol, includes: a power source discharging to a first load which is a load for heating the aerosol source and a second load which is a load for heating the flavor source; and a control device controlling discharge from the power source to a control target load including at least one of the first load and the second load. The control device includes a plurality of control profiles, controls the discharge to the control target load, is able to change the control profile used for controlling the discharge to the control target load based on a change instruction from a user, and limits the change of the control profile during discharge to the first load.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventor: Takuma NAKANO
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Publication number: 20230102556Abstract: An aerosol generation device includes: accommodation that accommodates a flavor source capable of adding a flavor to the aerosol source vaporized and/or atomized by heating the aerosol source with a first heater; a sensor configured to output a value related to a temperature of the flavor source, the accommodation, or a second heater; a power supply that is electrically connected to the first heater and the second heater; and a controller configured to control discharging from the power supply to the first heater and discharging from the power supply to the second heater based on an output of the sensor. The controller controls discharging to the second heater so as to cause the temperature to converge to a first target temperature, and then controls discharging to the second heater so as to cause the temperature to converge to a temperature lower than the first target temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Yutaka KAIHATSU, Hirofumi FUJIKURA, Takuma NAKANO
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Patent number: 11612186Abstract: A method for supplying a liquid to an inhaler cartridge includes a housing body including an accommodation space capable of accommodating a liquid, a first opening communicating with the accommodation space and opened in a first direction, and a second opening communicating with the accommodation space and opened in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a cap configured to be formed separately from the housing body and close the first opening. The method includes closing the first opening with the cap, and after the first opening is closed, supplying the liquid to the accommodation space through the second opening.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2019Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Tomoichi Watanabe, Hirofumi Matsumoto, Takuma Nakano, Kei Oishi
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Publication number: 20230089306Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol generation device includes a controller configured to determine whether an aerosol source and a flavor source contain menthol, control discharging to a first heater and a second heater by a menthol mode upon determination that the aerosol source contains menthol, and control the discharging to the first heater and the second heater by a regular mode upon determination that the aerosol source and the flavor source do not contain menthol. A manner of the discharging to the first heater in the menthol mode is different from a manner of the discharging to the first heater in the regular mode, and/or a manner of the discharging to the second heater in the menthol mode is different from a manner of the discharging to the second heater in the regular mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Yutaka KAIHATSU, Hirofumi FUJIKURA, Takuma NAKANO
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Publication number: 20230091282Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol generation device includes a controller capable of controlling discharging from a power supply to a first load and a second load, and an operation unit configured to be operated by a user. The controller has a plurality of modes for operating the aerosol generation device, including a regular mode and an irregular mode, and is configured to execute first predetermined control of the aerosol generation device upon a first predetermined operation on the operation unit, operate in the regular mode upon a second predetermined operation on the operation unit, and operate in the irregular mode upon a third predetermined operation on the operation unit. A time required for the second predetermined operation and a time required for the third predetermined operation are shorter than a time required for the first predetermined operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Yutaka KAIHATSU, Hirofumi FUJIKURA, Takuma NAKANO, Keiji MARUBASHI, Ikuo FUJINAGA, Hajime FUJITA
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Patent number: 11589420Abstract: A battery unit includes a power supply; a connection configured to be connectable with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source and a charger for charging the power supply; and a controller that performs a specific process at least selectively executable to at least temporarily disable the supply of electric power to the load from the power supply, if erroneously determining the load connected to the connection as the charger is identified.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2019Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Manabu Takeuchi, Takaya Takahashi, Manabu Yamada, Takuma Nakano, Hajime Fujita
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Publication number: 20230022645Abstract: To provide an inhaler cartridge and an inhaler including a novel structure. Provided is a cartridge for an inhaler. The cartridge includes: a housing including an accommodation space capable of accommodating a liquid, an air flow passage, and a partition member partitioning the accommodation space and the air flow passage in a longitudinal direction; and a heater configured to be capable of heating the liquid and arranged in the air flow passage. The partition member includes an opening opened in a transverse direction to bring the accommodation space into communication with the air flow passage. The opening includes an upstream-side opening edge and a downstream-side opening edge. The partition member includes an upstream-side end and a downstream-side end. A distance between the upstream-side opening edge and the upstream-side end is smaller than a distance between the downstream-side opening edge and the downstream-side end.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Tomoichi WATANABE, Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Takuma NAKANO, Kei OISHI
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Patent number: 11559085Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler, which causes an aerosol generated from an aerosol source to pass through a flavor source to add a flavor component of the flavor source to the aerosol, includes: a power supply configured to be dischargeable to a first load configured to heat the aerosol source and dischargeable to a second load configured to heat the flavor source; and a processing device. The processing device determines whether the second load can heat the flavor source. When it is determined that the second load can heat the flavor source, the processing device starts or continues discharging from the power supply to the second load as second discharging before starting discharging from the power supply to the first load as first discharging.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Ikuo Fujinaga, Takuma Nakano, Hajime Fujita, Keiji Marubashi
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Patent number: 11547146Abstract: An aerosol generating device which is capable of generating an aerosol at an appropriate timing includes: a power source which supplies power in order to atomize an aerosol source and/or heat a flavor source; a sensor which outputs a measurement value for controlling the power supplied; and a controller which controls the power supplied on the basis of the measurement value. The controller controls a power supply amount from the power source to be a first value when the measured value is equal to or larger than a first threshold and smaller than a second threshold larger than the first threshold, and the power supply amount to be larger than the first value when the measured value is equal to or larger than the second threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: JAPAN TABACCO INC.Inventors: Takuma Nakano, Manabu Yamada
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Publication number: 20220386701Abstract: A smoking system that smoothly switches between a charge mode and a direct heating mode is provided with: a secondary device with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source and a power source capable of supplying power to the load; a primary device which, when connected to the secondary device, is capable of supplying power to the load and the power source; and a control unit capable of executing a first mode in which the power is supplied from the primary device to the load and a second mode in which the power is supplied from the primary device to the power source. During a first transition, which is from the first mode to the second mode, and/or a second transition, which is from the second mode to the first mode, the control unit executes, in a time between the modes, a transition mode involving a transition time for changing a preset variable relating to power supply.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2022Publication date: December 8, 2022Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Takuma NAKANO, Hajime FUJITA
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Patent number: 11517040Abstract: A flavor inhaler includes a tubular holder that extends from a mouthpiece end toward a distal end, a flavor source that is provided in the holder, and a combustion type heat source that is provided at the distal end, and includes a protruding portion protruding from the distal end and a flavorant carried on the protruding portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2018Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Takuma Nakano, Takeshi Akiyama, Takashi Oda, Masaaki Suzuki, Kimitaka Uchii
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Publication number: 20220369723Abstract: An inhalation component generation device includes a load configured to vaporize or atomize an inhalation component source with electric power from a power supply, a notification unit, and a control unit configured to acquire a value indicating a remaining amount of the power supply and acquire an operation request signal to the load to generate a command for operating the load. The control unit is configured to cause the notification unit to perform second notification when the value indicating the remaining amount of the power supply is less than a first threshold and equal to or more than a second threshold smaller than the first threshold. The control unit is configured to cause the notification unit to perform third notification when the value indicating the remaining amount of the power supply is less than the second threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2022Publication date: November 24, 2022Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Manabu TAKEUCHI, Takeshi AKAO, Takuma NAKANO, Hajime FUJITA
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Patent number: 11495671Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device is formed by a process that first deposits a silicon nitride (SiN) film on a semiconductor layer by the lower pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) technique at a temperature, then, forming an opening in the SiN film for an ohmic electrode. Preparing a photoresist on the SiN film, where the photoresist provides an opening that fully covers the opening in the SiN film, the process exposes a peripheral area around the opening of the SiN film to chlorine (Cl) plasma that may etch the semiconductor layer to form a recess therein. Metals for the ohmic electrode are filled within the recess in the semiconductor layer and the peripheral area of the SiN film. Finally, the metals are alloyed at a temperature lower than the deposition temperature of the SiN film.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC DEVICE INNOVATIONS, INC.Inventor: Takuma Nakano
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Patent number: 11457666Abstract: To provide an inhaler cartridge and an inhaler including a novel structure. Provided is a cartridge for an inhaler. The cartridge includes: a housing including an accommodation space capable of accommodating a liquid, an air flow passage, and a partition member partitioning the accommodation space and the air flow passage in a longitudinal direction; and a heater configured to be capable of heating the liquid and arranged in the air flow passage. The partition member includes an opening opened in a transverse direction to bring the accommodation space into communication with the air flow passage. The opening includes an upstream-side opening edge and a downstream-side opening edge. The partition member includes an upstream-side end and a downstream-side end. A distance between the upstream-side opening edge and the upstream-side end is smaller than a distance between the downstream-side opening edge and the downstream-side end.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2019Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Tomoichi Watanabe, Hirofumi Matsumoto, Takuma Nakano, Kei Oishi
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Patent number: 11445760Abstract: A smoking system that smoothly switches between a charge mode and a direct heating mode is provided with: a secondary device with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source and a power source capable of supplying power to the load; a primary device which, when connected to the secondary device, is capable of supplying power to the load and the power source; and a control unit capable of executing a first mode in which the power is supplied from the primary device to the load and a second mode in which the power is supplied from the primary device to the power source. During a first transition, which is from the first mode to the second mode, and/or a second transition, which is from the second mode to the first mode, the control unit executes, in a time between the modes, a transition mode involving a transition time for changing a preset variable relating to power supply.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Takuma Nakano, Hajime Fujita
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Patent number: 11445763Abstract: An inhalation component generation device includes a load configured to vaporize or atomize an inhalation component source with electric power from a power supply, a notification unit, and a control unit configured to acquire a value indicating a remaining amount of the power supply and acquire an operation request signal to the load to generate a command for operating the load. The control unit is configured to cause the notification unit to perform second notification when the value indicating the remaining amount of the power supply is less than a first threshold and equal to or more than a second threshold smaller than the first threshold. The control unit is configured to cause the notification unit to perform third notification when the value indicating the remaining amount of the power supply is less than the second threshold. The first threshold is changeable based on an algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Manabu Takeuchi, Takeshi Akao, Takuma Nakano, Hajime Fujita
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Patent number: 11432590Abstract: An inhalation component generation device including: a load configured to vaporize or atomize an inhalation component source by electric power from an electric power source; a user interface; and circuitry configured to obtain a value representing a remaining amount of the electric power source, obtain an operation requesting signal to the load, and generate an instruction for operating the load; cause the user interface to perform a first notification in a case that the value is equal to or greater than a first threshold value; cause the user interface to perform a second notification in a case that the value is less than the first threshold value and equal to or greater than a second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value; and cause the user interface to perform a third notification in a case that the value is less than the second threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Manabu Takeuchi, Takeshi Akao, Takuma Nakano, Hajime Fujita
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Patent number: 11401590Abstract: Provided is a soft magnetic alloy having a composition of a compositional formula (Fe(1?(?+?))X1?X2?)(1?(a+b+c+d+e))PaCbSicCudMe. X1 is one or more selected from a group consisting of Co and Ni, X2 is one or more selected from a group consisting of Al, Mn, Ag, Zn, Sn, As, Sb, Bi, N, 0, and rare earth elements, and M is one or more selected from the group consisting of Nb, Hf, Zr, Ta, Ti, Mo, W and V. 0.050?a?0.17, 0<b<0.050, 0.030<c?0.10, 0<d?0.020, 0?e?0.030, ??0, ??0, and 0??+??0.50.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2018Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: TDK CORPORATIONInventors: Akihiro Harada, Hiroyuki Matsumoto, Kenji Horino, Kazuhiro Yoshidome, Akito Hasegawa, Hajime Amano, Kensuke Ara, Seigo Tokoro, Masakazu Hosono, Takuma Nakano, Satoko Mori