Patents by Inventor Tetsuo Muranaka

Tetsuo Muranaka 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: 11604533
    Abstract: There is provided a sensor unit for detecting a proximity state of an object at N detection positions, generating a composite detection signal in conformity with the sum of N detection signals obtained as a result of detection for N detection positions, and controlling a positive or negative polarity of the detection signal having a signal level in conformity with the proximity state at each of N detection positions, a sensor control unit for controlling the sensor unit for generating M composite detection signals having N polarity patterns set at N detection signals different from each other, and a signal regeneration unit for regenerating the signal level of the N detection signal based on the M composite detection signals generated by the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Muranaka, Naoyuki Hatano, Hiroshi Izumi, Koichi Miura, Yasuji Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20230065480
    Abstract: An input device includes a housing and a strain-generating body including a cylindrical portion with an upper end surface, the strain-generating body being secured to the housing. The input device includes four strain sensors, the four strain sensors being secured around the cylindrical portion of the strain-generating body. The input device includes an operation panel having a lower surface, the operation panel including a shaft, the shaft being situated on the lower surface and at a central portion of the operation panel, and the shaft being inserted into the cylindrical portion of the strain-generating body to be secured to the strain-generating body. The upper end surface of the cylindrical portion of the strain-generating body and the lower surface of the operation panel are in contact with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Sadayuki YAGINUMA, Kunio HOSONO, Tetsuo MURANAKA, Yasuji HAGIWARA
  • Patent number: 11417478
    Abstract: A multidirectional input apparatus with a switch includes a strain generating body including at least a cylindrical portion and a first plate portion; a plurality of strain sensors; a wiring substrate; a contact rubber configuring the switch together with an electrode on the wiring substrate; and a button. The contact rubber includes a base portion, a movable portion, and a deformable portion. The movable portion is movable to a first position when the deformable portion is not deformed, and to a second position when the deformable portion is deformed. A center of a lower surface of the button contacts an upper surface of the movable portion when the movable portion is at the first and second positions. When the movable portion moves from the first position to the second position and contacts the electrode, a protruding portion on the lower surface of the button presses the wiring substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sadayuki Yaginuma, Kunio Hosono, Tetsuo Muranaka, Yasuji Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20220013311
    Abstract: A multidirectional input apparatus with a switch includes a strain generating body including at least a cylindrical portion and a first plate portion; a plurality of strain sensors; a wiring substrate; a contact rubber configuring the switch together with an electrode on the wiring substrate; and a button. The contact rubber includes a base portion, a movable portion, and a deformable portion. The movable portion is movable to a first position when the deformable portion is not deformed, and to a second position when the deformable portion is deformed. A center of a lower surface of the button contacts an upper surface of the movable portion when the movable portion is at the first and second positions. When the movable portion moves from the first position to the second position and contacts the electrode, a protruding portion on the lower surface of the button presses the wiring substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Sadayuki YAGINUMA, Kunio HOSONO, Tetsuo MURANAKA, Yasuji HAGIWARA
  • Patent number: 11221640
    Abstract: A multidirectional input device includes a frame, a plate-shaped base below the frame, a load detector provided on the frame or the base, and circuitry. The frame stores part of a tiltable operation stick and a tilt detector. The circuitry is configured to output an output signal representing the direction and the magnitude of an operation on the operation stick, based on the angle detection value of the tilt of the operation stick detected by the tilt detector and the load detection value of a load applied to the frame detected by the load detector. The circuitry is configured not to output the output signal or to output the output signal that sets the magnitude of the operation to zero, when the load detection value detected by the load detector is less than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Muranaka, Kunio Hosono, Sadayuki Yaginuma, Yasuji Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20210271283
    Abstract: A multidirectional input device includes a frame, a plate-shaped base below the frame, a load detector provided on the frame or the base, and circuitry. The frame stores part of a tiltable operation stick and a tilt detector. The circuitry is configured to output an output signal representing the direction and the magnitude of an operation on the operation stick, based on the angle detection value of the tilt of the operation stick detected by the tilt detector and the load detection value of a load applied to the frame detected by the load detector. The circuitry is configured not to output the output signal or to output the output signal that sets the magnitude of the operation to zero, when the load detection value detected by the load detector is less than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Tetsuo MURANAKA, Kunio HOSONO, Sadayuki YAGINUMA, Yasuji HAGIWARA
  • Publication number: 20210211129
    Abstract: There is provided a sensor unit for detecting a proximity state of an object at N detection positions, generating a composite detection signal in conformity with the sum of N detection signals obtained as a result of detection for N detection positions, and controlling a positive or negative polarity of the detection signal having a signal level in conformity with the proximity state at each of N detection positions, a sensor control unit for controlling the sensor unit for generating M composite detection signals having N polarity patterns set at N detection signals different from each other, and a signal regeneration unit for regenerating the signal level of the N detection signal based on the M composite detection signals generated by the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Tetsuo MURANAKA, Naoyuki HATANO, Hiroshi IZUMI, Koichi MIURA, Yasuji HAGIWARA
  • Patent number: 11042179
    Abstract: A multidirectional input device includes a frame, a plate-shaped base below the frame, a load detector provided on the frame or the base, and circuitry. The frame stores part of a tiltable operation stick and a tilt detector. The circuitry is configured to output an output signal representing the direction and the magnitude of an operation on the operation stick, based on the angle detection value of the tilt of the operation stick detected by the tilt detector and the load detection value of a load applied to the frame detected by the load detector. The circuitry is configured not to output the output signal or to output the output signal that sets the magnitude of the operation to zero, when the load detection value detected by the load detector is less than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Muranaka, Kunio Hosono, Sadayuki Yaginuma, Yasuji Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20210181779
    Abstract: A multidirectional input device includes a frame, a plate-shaped base below the frame, a load detector provided on the frame or the base, and circuitry. The frame stores part of a tiltable operation stick and a tilt detector. The circuitry is configured to output an output signal representing the direction and the magnitude of an operation on the operation stick, based on the angle detection value of the tilt of the operation stick detected by the tilt detector and the load detection value of a load applied to the frame detected by the load detector. The circuitry is configured not to output the output signal or to output the output signal that sets the magnitude of the operation to zero, when the load detection value detected by the load detector is less than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Tetsuo MURANAKA, Kunio HOSONO, Sadayuki YAGINUMA, Yasuji HAGIWARA
  • Publication number: 20190033997
    Abstract: An input control device includes a reception unit configured to receive a first input from a screen input device that detects an operation performed on an operation screen, and a second input from one or more other input devices, a setup unit configured to set, on a basis of the second input, decision criteria for deciding whether an operation performed on at least a part of a target region in the operation screen is valid, and a decision unit configured to decide whether the operation performed on at least a part of the target region is valid, on a basis of the first input and the decision criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuhito Oshita, Masaru Komatsu, Hiroshi Shigetaka, Koichi Miura, Tetsuo Muranaka, Naoyuki Hatano
  • Patent number: 8248382
    Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of X scanning electrodes and a common detection electrode that forms capacitances together with the X scanning electrodes. A first driving signal is sequentially supplied to the X scanning electrodes, and a second driving signal is supplied to the X scanning electrodes other than the X scanning electrodes adjacent to the X scanning electrode supplied with the first driving signal. It is possible to detect two X scanning electrodes simultaneously approached by the fingers by detecting a current generated in the detection electrode when the first driving signal P and the second driving signal N are supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: ALPS Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Muranaka
  • Publication number: 20120044013
    Abstract: An electrostatic capacitance-type input device includes X driving electrodes and Y driving electrodes on an operation face operated by a finger. A correction electrode and a correction detection electrode are provided to be opposed at a place which is not affected by the finger operating the operation face. Driving voltage is sequentially applied to the X driving electrodes by an X driving unit, and the voltage is also applied to the correction electrode. An input detection signal for detecting a contact position of the finger and a correction detection signal obtained from the correction detection electrode changed on the basis of environmental changes are detected by the same detection unit, and the correction detection signal and the input detection signal are corrected in a data processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuo MURANAKA
  • Patent number: 7834860
    Abstract: An electrostatic capacitance type input device includes a plurality of electrodes, and detects coordinate position on the basis of a variation in an electrostatic capacitance between the electrodes. The device corrects an erroneous operation in which the device is not properly operated but certain coordinate positions are continuously detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Muranaka
  • Patent number: 7656314
    Abstract: An input device is provided. The input device includes an operation unit. A coordinate input unit capable of detecting that an operating body is in contact with the operation unit and detecting a position coordinate on the operation unit of a position where the operating body contacted the operation unit. A data processing unit outputs an operation processing signal on the basis of a detection signal received from the coordinate input unit. The data processing unit outputs an operation confirmation processing signal for the input operation after an input operation is performed while the operating body is contacting the operation unit, when tapping is performed on the operation unit, with the operating body kept in contact with the operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Muranaka, Akihiro Shinohe, Shuzo Ono
  • Publication number: 20090289918
    Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of X scan electrodes, a plurality of Y scan electrodes, and common detection electrode forming capacitance with the X scan electrodes and the Y scan electrodes. In the cycles, a second driving signal is supplied to the same Y scan electrode, and in each of the cycles, a first driving signal is sequentially supplied to the X scan electrodes. Two positions touched by fingers are detected from detection current to be obtained by the detection electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventor: Tetsuo MURANAKA
  • Publication number: 20090229893
    Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of X scanning electrodes and a common detection electrode that forms capacitances together with the X scanning electrodes. A first driving signal is sequentially supplied to the X scanning electrodes, and a second driving signal is supplied to the X scanning electrodes other than the X scanning electrodes adjacent to the X scanning electrode supplied with the first driving signal. It is possible to detect two X scanning electrodes simultaneously approached by the fingers by detecting a current generated in the detection electrode when the first driving signal P and the second driving signal N are supplied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Muranaka
  • Publication number: 20070242053
    Abstract: An electrostatic capacitance type input device includes a plurality of electrodes, and detects coordinate position on the basis of a variation in an electrostatic capacitance between the electrodes. The device corrects an erroneous operation in which the device is not properly operated but certain coordinate positions are continuously detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Muranaka
  • Publication number: 20070132724
    Abstract: An input device having a substrate having a first region and a second region. The first region is configured to receive movement operations by an input mechanism, such as to control a pointer or cursor on a display. The second region has an input pad, such as a number pad, to generate absolute signals in response to contact by the input mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuo Muranaka
  • Publication number: 20070052688
    Abstract: An input device is provided. The input device includes an operation unit. A coordinate input unit capable of detecting that an operating body is in contact with the operation unit and detecting a position coordinate on the operation unit of a position where the operating body contacted the operation unit. A data processing unit outputs an operation processing signal on the basis of a detection signal received from the coordinate input unit. The data processing unit outputs an operation confirmation processing signal for the input operation after an input operation is performed while the operating body is contacting the operation unit, when tapping is performed on the operation unit, with the operating body kept in contact with the operation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventors: Tetsuo Muranaka, Akihiro Shinohe, Shuzo Ono