Patents by Inventor Tomofumi Kitazawa

Tomofumi Kitazawa 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: 20240150708
    Abstract: A cell culture method includes performing adherent culture of cells on a coat layer layered on a surface of a cell culture container by placing a culture medium and the cells in the cell culture container. The coat layer includes a layer (i) that includes a layer (i-1) including gelatin or casein and a layer (i-2) that includes a polycationic material and a layer (ii) that is layered on the layer (i) and includes a cell adhesion factor. The layer (ii) is disposed at a position at which the layer (ii) comes into contact with the cells, or the coat layer includes the layer (i) and the layer (i) is disposed at a position at which the layer (i) comes into contact with the cells, and the culture medium includes the cell adhesion factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Momoko Shionoiri, Tomoyuki Aratani, Rie Ijichi, Tatsuya Sameshima, Shinnosuke Koshizuka, Tomofumi Kitazawa, Tomoaki Nakayama, Yuki Kaga
  • Publication number: 20230105330
    Abstract: A cell-containing structure is provided that allows ready-to-use nerve drug response evaluation with high reproducibility to be easily performed. The cell-containing structure for evaluating an electrical property of neurons includes: (a) a culture surface to which the neurons are able to be adhered; (b) a cell mass that is adhered to the culture surface and contains at least one of the neurons; and (c) a plurality of electrodes for measuring the electrical property of the cell mass, wherein a spontaneous firing frequency of cells contained in the cell mass is 0.25 Hz or more per electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki KAGA, Tomoaki NAKAYAMA, Tomoyuki Aratani, Shinnosuke Koshizuka, Tatsuya Sameshima, Momoko Shionoiri, Tomofumi Kitazawa, Rie Ijichi
  • Publication number: 20230103754
    Abstract: (Object) To improve the accuracy of the placement of liquid droplets. (Means of Achieving the object) A liquid droplet discharging method is performed by a liquid droplet discharging apparatus configured to discharge a liquid droplet from a nozzle hole formed in a film-like member, the liquid droplet discharging method including positioning the nozzle hole inside a recessed portion provided in a container; and discharging the liquid droplet from the nozzle hole positioned inside the recessed portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Yusuke NONOYAMA, Takahiko MATSUMOTO, Hidekazu YAGINUMA, Reo MAEDA, Tatsuya SAMESHIMA, Natsuko IWASHITA, Tomoyuki ARATANI, Tomofumi KITAZAWA, Shinnosuke KOSHIZUKA
  • Publication number: 20210301240
    Abstract: Provided is a cell-containing container including nerve cells and a medium, in which the nerve cells adhere to a culture surface of the cell-containing container, an adhesion area between the nerve cells and the culture surface is 0.5 mm2 or more per 80,000 nerve cells, and a concentration of glucose in the medium is 1 g/L or higher.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Tomoaki NAKAYAMA, Tomoyuki ARATANI, Shinnosuke KOSHIZUKA, Atsushi MIYAOKA, Momoko SHIONOIRI, Rie YAMOTO, Tomofumi KITAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20210284947
    Abstract: A drying suppression device including: a main body housing a well plate; and an openable/closable lid provided on the main body, the main body including: a holder section that holds the well plate; a liquid storage tank that stores liquid; and a support section that supports the holder while keeping the holder section away from an inner bottom surface of the liquid storage tank, wherein, with the lid being closed, an inner space surrounded by the liquid storage tank and the lid communicate with an outside space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Shinnosuke KOSHIZUKA, Tomoyuki ARATANI, Tatsuya SAMESHIMA, Tomoaki NAKAYAMA, Atsushi MIYAOKA, Momoko SHIONOIRI, Tomofumi KITAZAWA
  • Patent number: 9910271
    Abstract: An actuator device includes a frame, a movable member to rotate about a rotation axis, a reflection member formed on the movable member to reflect a light flux that enters the reflection member, a first deformable member disposed on the frame to support and move the movable member, at least one first driver to deform the first deformable member, a detection-use line formed on the first deformable member and on the movable member to allow an electric current, and a light shield unit disposed at least one of a light incident side and a light exit side of the reflection member. The light shield unit blocks at least one of an entry of the light flux to the reflection member and an exit of the light flux from the reflection member when the detection-use line is damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomofumi Kitazawa, Kazuhiko Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 9766450
    Abstract: A light deflector is provided including a mirror unit having a light reflection plane, a movable frame to support the mirror unit, a support frame disposed to surround the movable frame, a pair of serpentine beams each disposed between the movable frame and the support frame on both sides of the movable frame to form a turning shape, each of the serpentine beams having one end attached to the support frame, and another end attached to the movable frame, and a vibration damper provided on a portion that moves due to deformation of the serpentine beams caused by application of voltage being transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Nakagawa, Tsuyoshi Hashiguchi, Eri Watanabe, Goichi Akanuma, Tomofumi Kitazawa
  • Publication number: 20170176743
    Abstract: An actuator device includes a frame, a movable member to rotate about a rotation axis, a reflection member formed on the movable member to reflect a light flux that enters the reflection member, a first deformable member disposed on the frame to support and move the movable member, at least one first driver to deform the first deformable member, a detection-use line formed on the first deformable member and on the movable member to allow an electric current, and a light shield unit disposed at least one of a light incident side and a light exit side of the reflection member. The light shield unit blocks at least one of an entry of the light flux to the reflection member and an exit of the light flux from the reflection member when the detection-use line is damaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: TOMOFUMI KITAZAWA, KAZUHIKO TSUKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 9448402
    Abstract: An optical deflection device includes a mirror having a reflection face for deflecting light that enters the reflection face; and a support member to support the mirror including a torsion bar having one end being continuously connected to the mirror; a beam being continuously connected to another end of the torsion bar; and a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed on the beam including a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Goichi Akanuma, Tomofumi Kitazawa
  • Publication number: 20160109697
    Abstract: A light deflector is provided including a mirror unit having a light reflection plane, a movable frame to support the mirror unit, a support frame disposed to surround the movable frame, a pair of serpentine beams each disposed between the movable frame and the support frame on both sides of the movable frame to form a turning shape, each of the serpentine beams having one end attached to the support frame, and another end attached to the movable frame, and a vibration damper provided on a portion that moves due to deformation of the serpentine beams caused by application of voltage being transferred
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Jun NAKAGAWA, Tsuyoshi HASHIGUCHI, Eri WATANABE, Goichi AKANUMA, Tomofumi KITAZAWA
  • Patent number: 9291817
    Abstract: An optical deflecting device includes a mirror having a reflecting surface and a support unit to support the mirror. The support unit includes a first drive unit. The first drive unit includes a plurality of continuously meandering first beams and a plurality of first piezoelectric members respectively provided to the plurality of first beams to swing the mirror around a first axis to deflect light incident on the reflecting surface of the mirror. Two voltages having non-similar waveforms are respectively applied in parallel to each two of the first piezoelectric members respectively provided to adjacent two of the first beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Hashiguchi, Tomofumi Kitazawa, Goichi Akanuma
  • Publication number: 20150077823
    Abstract: An optical deflecting device includes a mirror having a reflecting surface and a support unit to support the mirror. The support unit includes a first drive unit. The first drive unit includes a plurality of continuously meandering first beams and a plurality of first piezoelectric members respectively provided to the plurality of first beams to swing the mirror around a first axis to deflect light incident on the reflecting surface of the mirror. Two voltages having non-similar waveforms are respectively applied in parallel to each two of the first piezoelectric members respectively provided to adjacent two of the first beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi HASHIGUCHI, Tomofumi KITAZAWA, Goichi AKANUMA
  • Publication number: 20150062683
    Abstract: An optical deflection device includes a mirror having a reflection face for deflecting light that enters the reflection face; and a support member to support the mirror including a torsion bar having one end being continuously connected to the mirror; a beam being continuously connected to another end of the torsion bar; and a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed on the beam including a first piezoelectric element and a second piezoelectric element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Goichi AKANUMA, Tomofumi Kitazawa
  • Patent number: 8830551
    Abstract: An actuator is configured of a frame element, a pair of beam elements, a movable element rotatably supported by the frame element via the beam elements, a driver configured to rotate the movable element relative to the frame element around the beam elements as a rotary shaft; and damper elements provided on the rotary axis of the beam elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomofumi Kitazawa, Goichi Akanuma, Mitsumi Fujii
  • Patent number: 8395834
    Abstract: The deflecting mirror includes a fixed base member; a mirror having a reflection surface; a support member swingablly supporting the mirror; a pair of driving beam members, each having a first end connected with the fixed base member and a second end connected with the support member to support the support member from both sides; and a piezoelectric member fixed to each driving beam member and extending from the first or second end of each driving beam member while having length not longer than about half the length of the driving beam member. The piezoelectric member and the driving beam members constitute piezoelectric unimorph or bimorph structure. By applying voltage to the piezoelectric member, the driving beam members are driven at the same time in the same direction, thereby vibrating the support member in a direction perpendicular to the reflection surface of the mirror, resulting in swinging of the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Goichi Akanuma, Tomofumi Kitazawa, Fumiko Sakoh
  • Publication number: 20120120470
    Abstract: An actuator is configured of a frame element, a pair of beam elements, a movable element rotatably supported by the frame element via the beam elements, a driver configured to rotate the movable element relative to the frame element around the beam elements as a rotary shaft; and damper elements provided on the rotary axis of the beam elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Tomofumi KITAZAWA, Goichi Akanuma, Mitsumi Fujii
  • Patent number: 8174750
    Abstract: An optical deflector, including a fixed base; a mirror having a light reflection surface; a pair of elastic support members oscillatably supporting the mirror; and a pair of drive beams formed of a beam-shaped member on which a piezoelectric is fixed, wherein the elastic support members and the drive beams in longitudinal directions are almost orthogonally located and connected with each other, other ends of the drive beams are fixed on the fixed base, the mirror and the pair of elastic support members are cantilevered by the pair of drive beams relative to the fixed base, and bending oscillation of the drive beams causes torsional deformation of the elastic members to rotationally oscillate the mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Goichi Akanuma, Tomofumi Kitazawa, Fumiko Sakoh, Mitsumi Fujii
  • Patent number: 7889153
    Abstract: A projection surface on which a predetermined projection image is projected is provided; a writing surface on which an image can be drawn directly in a superimposing manner with a projection image displayed on the projection surface is provided; and a photography part photographing an image drawn on the writing surface by means of an image-pickup part comprising two-dimensionally-disposed pixels is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kitaguchi, Tomofumi Kitazawa, Saburo Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20100309536
    Abstract: An optical deflector, including a fixed base; a mirror having a light reflection surface; a pair of elastic support members oscillatably supporting the mirror; and a pair of drive beams formed of a beam-shaped member on which a piezoelectric is fixed, wherein the elastic support members and the drive beams in longitudinal directions are almost orthogonally located and connected with each other, other ends of the drive beams are fixed on the fixed base, the mirror and the pair of elastic support members are cantilevered by the pair of drive beams relative to the fixed base, and bending oscillation of the drive beams causes torsional deformation of the elastic members to rotationally oscillate the mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Goichi AKANUMA, Tomofumi Kitazawa, Fumiko Sakoh, Mitsumi Fujii
  • Publication number: 20100195180
    Abstract: The deflecting mirror includes a fixed base member; a mirror having a reflection surface; a support member swingably supporting the mirror; a pair of driving beam members, each having a first end connected with the fixed base member and a second end connected with the support member to support the support member from both sides; and a piezoelectric member fixed to each driving beam member and extending from the first or second end of each driving beam member while having length not longer than about half the length of the driving beam member. The piezoelectric member and the driving beam members constitute piezoelectric unimorph or bimorph structure. By applying voltage to the piezoelectric member, the driving beam members are driven at the same time in the same direction, thereby vibrating the support member in a direction perpendicular to the reflection surface of the mirror, resulting in swinging of the mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Goichi Akanuma, Tomofumi Kitazawa, Fumiko Sakoh