Patents by Inventor Tomoyuki Kikuta
Tomoyuki Kikuta 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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Patent number: 9333949Abstract: Each of a plurality of nozzles is placed to correspond with a corresponding one of a plurality of washing subjects of a vehicle and is adapted to spray washer fluid over the corresponding one of the washing subjects upon receiving the washer fluid from a pump. A switch valve is adapted to switch a supply destination of the washer fluid, which is pumped from the pump, among the nozzles. A control conduit is placed in a flow path between an inlet of the switch valve and an outlet of a corresponding one of the nozzles and limits a flow quantity of the washer fluid, which is fed from the switch valve to the outlet of the corresponding one of the nozzles.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: ASMO CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuta Doi, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yuji Hayashi
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Patent number: 9327689Abstract: When receiving no reverse state signal, which indicates that a vehicle is in reverse, a wash control circuit allows the actuation of the wiper motor by the interlocking operation and retains a changeover valve device on the side of the window washing nozzle. When receiving a reverse state signal, the wash control circuit switches the changeover valve device from the window washing nozzle to a camera washing nozzle and inhibits the actuation of the wiper motor by the interlocking operation.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yukihiro Matsushita, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Noriyuki Fukaya
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Publication number: 20160094741Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an apparatus body, a document sheet cover, a magnetic force generating portion, and a magnetic force control portion. The apparatus body has a document placement surface. The document sheet cover is supported by the apparatus body so as to be pivotable between an open position where the document placement surface is uncovered and a closed position where the document placement surface is covered with the document sheet cover. The magnetic force generating portion is able to selectively generate a magnetic attraction force and a magnetic repulsion force between a pair of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet provided in the cover portion and the apparatus body, respectively. The magnetic force control portion switches the magnetic force generating portion between a state where the magnetic force generating portion generates the attraction force and a state where the magnetic force generating portion generates the repulsion force.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2015Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventor: Tomoyuki Kikuta
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Patent number: 9221430Abstract: A branch conduit is branched from a main conduit. A switching device is provided at a location between an upstream side portion of the main conduit and the branch conduit and is adapted to connect the upstream side portion of the main conduit to one of a rear window wash nozzle and a camera wash nozzle. When the switching device receives an electric signal, which indicates placement of a vehicle in a reverse drive mode, the switching device connects the upstream side portion of the main conduit to the camera wash nozzle through the branch conduit upon disconnecting the upstream side portion of the main conduit from the at least one window wash nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2012Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: ASMO CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yukihiro Matsushita
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Patent number: 9132852Abstract: A support bracket structure is realized, in which the support bracket is made using a metal plate and sufficient strength and rigidity thereof can be maintained, and the production costs thereof can be kept sufficiently low by improving the yield of material. A support bracket 14a for supporting the front end section of a steering column 6a by way of a housing 9a of an electric power-steering apparatus is manufactured by using a press to punch out and bend a metal plate. By devising the dimensions and bending direction of each part, the yield of material is improved, while at the same time the height dimensions of the first side plate section 19 and the second side plate section 20 required for maintaining the support rigidity under a heavy load is maintained.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2012Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventor: Tomoyuki Kikuta
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Patent number: 8985480Abstract: A controller may drive a solenoid switch valve to switch the same between a first connecting state and a second connecting state in a state where an electric pump is stopped. In the first connecting state, the switch valve connects the pump to a rear washer nozzle. In the second connecting state, the switch valve connects the pump to a camera washer nozzle. The controller may also display a captured image of an onboard camera and a camera wash touch panel switch on a display when the controller receives a reverse mode signal. The controller may drive the pump to feed the washer fluid to the camera washer nozzle when the controller receives a command signal from the camera wash touch panel switch.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2012Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yukihiro Matsushita
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Publication number: 20150078940Abstract: An electric pump includes a cylinder, a piston, a motor, and a discharge valve. The cylinder includes a valve port and a discharge port, which is in communication with the valve port. The discharge valve opens and closes the valve port. When the piston is moved forth to narrow a void in the cylinder, air is compressed in the cylinder. The discharge valve opens when operated by the piston that moves forth. The discharge valve opens and discharges compressed air from the valve port so that fluid including air is discharged from the discharge port.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Keita Kawai
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Publication number: 20150040953Abstract: An on-board optical sensor cleaning device includes an on-board camera and a discharge port. The on-board camera is mounted on a vehicle. The on-board camera includes a lens. The discharge port discharges fluid toward the lens. The discharged fluid removes foreign material collected on the lens. The lens and the discharge port are relatively movable. At least one of the lens and the discharge port is movable between a cleaning position, where the discharge port is located proximal to an image capturing range center of the on-board camera, and a non-cleaning position, where the discharge port is located farther from the image capturing range center than the cleaning position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2014Publication date: February 12, 2015Applicant: Asmo Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yukihiro Matsushita, Keita Saito
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Patent number: 8910742Abstract: Structure of an electric power-steering apparatus is achieved that is capable of both preventing damage to a connector 18a that is used for supplying electric power to an electric component, and improving the workability of the work for connecting the connector 18a. The connector 18a is located in a portion that is located below a housing 10a, and is located on the rear side of a worm wheel housing section 48a and below a torque sensor housing section 49a. Moreover, a protective wall section 21 is formed on the bottom surface of the worm wheel housing section 48a and extends downward, and when it is presumed that the electric power-steering apparatus is placed on a flat plane ?, the edge on the bottom end of the protective wall section 21 and the bottom end sections of the support bracket 23 come in contact with the flat plant ? such that a gap 52 is formed between the flat plane ? and the connector 18a.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2012Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventor: Tomoyuki Kikuta
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Publication number: 20140298118Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a communication control portion, an error code storage portion, an acquiring portion, and a determination portion. Communication control portion communicates with storage device based on interface communication standard, to perform data transfer therewith. Error code storage portion stores one or a plurality of selected error codes selected from a plurality of error codes defined by interface communication standard. Acquiring portion acquires error information outputted from storage device. Determination portion determines whether or not error code indicated by error information coincides with selected error code. When determination portion determines that error code coincides with selected error code, communication control portion communicates again with storage device to perform data transfer therewith.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventors: Naruyuki Miyamoto, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Takashi Inoue, Tetsuya Matsusaka
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Publication number: 20140190760Abstract: Structure of an electric power-steering apparatus is achieved that is capable of both preventing damage to a connector 18a that is used for supplying electric power to an electric component, and improving the workability of the work for connecting the connector 18a. The connector 18a is located in a portion that is located below a housing 10a, and is located on the rear side of a worm wheel housing section 48a and below a torque sensor housing section 49a. Moreover, a protective wall section 21 is formed on the bottom surface of the worm wheel housing section 48a and extends downward, and when it is presumed that the electric power-steering apparatus is placed on a flat plane ?, the edge on the bottom end of the protective wall section 21 and the bottom end sections of the support bracket 23 come in contact with the flat plant ? such that a gap 52 is formed between the flat plane ? and the connector 18a.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2012Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: NSK Ltd.Inventor: Tomoyuki Kikuta
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Publication number: 20140158454Abstract: A support bracket structure is realized, in which the support bracket is made using a metal plate and sufficient strength and rigidity thereof can be maintained, and the production costs thereof can be kept sufficiently low by improving the yield of material. A support bracket 14a for supporting the front end section of a steering column 6a by way of a housing 9a of an electric power-steering apparatus is manufactured by using a press to punch out and bend a metal plate. By devising the dimensions and bending direction of each part, the yield of material is improved, while at the same time the height dimensions of the first side plate section 19 and the second side plate section 20 required for maintaining the support rigidity under a heavy load is maintained.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2012Publication date: June 12, 2014Inventor: Tomoyuki Kikuta
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Publication number: 20130319486Abstract: An electric pump pumps washer fluid out of a tank installed in a vehicle. A rear camera washer nozzle discharges the washer fluid to a lens side of a rear camera installed to a back door of the vehicle upon receiving the washer fluid from the electric pump. A control circuit unit limits discharging of the washer fluid from the rear camera washer nozzle when the back door is in an open state. The tank may be installed in a luggage room located at a rear side of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki KIKUTA, Yukihiro MATSUSHITA
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Publication number: 20130255023Abstract: When receiving no reverse state signal, which indicates that a vehicle is in reverse, a wash control circuit allows the actuation of the wiper motor by the interlocking operation and retains a changeover valve device on the side of the window washing nozzle. When receiving a reverse state signal, the wash control circuit switches the changeover valve device from the window washing nozzle to a camera washing nozzle and inhibits the actuation of the wiper motor by the interlocking operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki KIKUTA, Yukihiro MATSUSHITA, Hidetoshi SUZUKI, Noriyuki FUKAYA
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Publication number: 20130048035Abstract: Each of a plurality of nozzles is placed to correspond with a corresponding one of a plurality of washing subjects of a vehicle and is adapted to spray washer fluid over the corresponding one of the washing subjects upon receiving the washer fluid from a pump. A switch valve is adapted to switch a supply destination of the washer fluid, which is pumped from the pump, among the nozzles. A control conduit is placed in a flow path between an inlet of the switch valve and an outlet of a corresponding one of the nozzles and limits a flow quantity of the washer fluid, which is fed from the switch valve to the outlet of the corresponding one of the nozzles.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuta DOI, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yuji Hayashi
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Publication number: 20130037627Abstract: A controller may drive a solenoid switch valve to switch the same between a first connecting state and a second connecting state in a state where an electric pump is stopped. In the first connecting state, the switch valve connects the pump to a rear washer nozzle. In the second connecting state, the switch valve connects the pump to a camera washer nozzle. The controller may also display a captured image of an onboard camera and a camera wash touch panel switch on a display when the controller receives a reverse mode signal. The controller may drive the pump to feed the washer fluid to the camera washer nozzle when the controller receives a command signal from the camera wash touch panel switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2012Publication date: February 14, 2013Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yukihiro Matsushita
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Publication number: 20120266926Abstract: A branch conduit is branched from a main conduit. A switching device is provided at a location between an upstream side portion of the main conduit and the branch conduit and is adapted to connect the upstream side portion of the main conduit to one of a rear window wash nozzle and a camera wash nozzle. When the switching device receives an electric signal, which indicates placement of a vehicle in a reverse drive mode, the switching device connects the upstream side portion of the main conduit to the camera wash nozzle through the branch conduit upon disconnecting the upstream side portion of the main conduit from the at least one window wash nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yukihiro Matsushita
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Patent number: 8116647Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductive drum; a developing roller carrying toner; a DC voltage application portion outputting a DC voltage to be applied to the developing roller, and receiving a feedback voltage; an AC voltage application portion applying an AC voltage to be applied to the developing roller; a detection portion detecting occurrence of electric discharge; a first resistor portion generating a feedback voltage that is fed to the DC voltage application portion; a second resistor portion connected between the DC voltage application portion and the AC voltage application portion, and having a switching portion with which conducting on and off are switchable; and a control portion controlling the switching portion, at the time of printing, to bring the second resistor portion into a conducting state and, at the time of electric discharge detection, to bring the second resistor portion into a non-conducting state.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Kyocera Mita CorporationInventors: Kensuke Fujihara, Tamotsu Shimizu, Ryota Maeda, Kouji Fujii, Tomoyuki Kikuta
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Patent number: 7895703Abstract: A backdoor apparatus includes a backdoor panel, a rear spoiler and a wiper mechanism. The wiper mechanism includes a motor assembly, a wiper arm and a wiper blade. A motor installation recess is formed in a top portion of the backdoor panel to receive the motor assembly. The motor assembly includes a cover, which covers a portion of a motor, which is exposed from the rear spoiler. The cover has a flange, which covers a top end part of the glass. The cover, which includes the flange, does not contact the glass.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2007Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.Inventors: Eiji Ina, Masaki Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Atsushi Katou
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Publication number: 20100129102Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductive drum; a developing roller carrying toner; a DC voltage application portion outputting a DC voltage to be applied to the developing roller, and receiving a feedback voltage; an AC voltage application portion applying an AC voltage to be applied to the developing roller; a detection portion detecting occurrence of electric discharge; a first resistor portion generating a feedback voltage that is fed to the DC voltage application portion; a second resistor portion connected between the DC voltage application portion and the AC voltage application portion, and having a switching portion with which conducting on and off are switchable; and a control portion controlling the switching portion, at the time of printing, to bring the second resistor portion into a conducting state and, at the time of electric discharge detection, to bring the second resistor portion into a non-conducting state.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2009Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATIONInventors: Kensuke Fujihara, Tamotsu Shimizu, Ryota Maeda, Kouji Fujii, Tomoyuki Kikuta