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).

  • Patent number: 9333949
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Doi, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yuji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9327689
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yukihiro Matsushita, Hidetoshi Suzuki, Noriyuki Fukaya
  • Publication number: 20160094741
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kikuta
  • Patent number: 9221430
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yukihiro Matsushita
  • Patent number: 9132852
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kikuta
  • Patent number: 8985480
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yukihiro Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20150078940
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Keita Kawai
  • Publication number: 20150040953
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yukihiro Matsushita, Keita Saito
  • Patent number: 8910742
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kikuta
  • Publication number: 20140298118
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Naruyuki Miyamoto, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Takashi Inoue, Tetsuya Matsusaka
  • Publication number: 20140190760
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kikuta
  • Publication number: 20140158454
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Kikuta
  • Publication number: 20130319486
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki KIKUTA, Yukihiro MATSUSHITA
  • Publication number: 20130255023
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki KIKUTA, Yukihiro MATSUSHITA, Hidetoshi SUZUKI, Noriyuki FUKAYA
  • Publication number: 20130048035
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta DOI, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yuji Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20130037627
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yukihiro Matsushita
  • Publication number: 20120266926
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kikuta, Yukihiro Matsushita
  • Patent number: 8116647
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Fujihara, Tamotsu Shimizu, Ryota Maeda, Kouji Fujii, Tomoyuki Kikuta
  • Patent number: 7895703
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Ina, Masaki Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Kikuta, Atsushi Katou
  • Publication number: 20100129102
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kensuke Fujihara, Tamotsu Shimizu, Ryota Maeda, Kouji Fujii, Tomoyuki Kikuta