Patents by Inventor Toru Sawada

Toru Sawada 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: 11750144
    Abstract: The present invention provides an indoor structure in which a wire to a solar cell module is hardly visible and design is improved. In an indoor structure, a solar cell module is attached to a window disposed between a ceiling and a floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Sawada
  • Publication number: 20220209709
    Abstract: An installation structure for a solar cell module comprises engagement parts attached to a wall surface; and a plurality of solar cell modules which are installed on the wall surface by engaging with the engagement parts. An upper frame part of the solar cell module has an engaging part for engaging with the engagement parts, and the upper frame part has a hole for letting out a cable from the solar cell module to outside. For vertically adjacent solar cell modules, a space for connecting and installing the cable let out to the outside is present between the upper frame part of the lower solar cell module and a lower frame part of the upper solar cell module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru SAWADA
  • Publication number: 20220085750
    Abstract: The present invention provides an indoor structure in which a wire to a solar cell module is hardly visible and design is improved. In an indoor structure, a solar cell module is attached to a window disposed between a ceiling and a floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru SAWADA
  • Patent number: 11275477
    Abstract: In an input device capable of reliably detecting, when an operator brings an operating body close to or into contact with an operation plane, absolute position information irrespective of a contact area size, third electrode arrays are disposed closer to the operation plane relative to second electrode arrays in a normal direction of the operation plane, the second electrode arrays have a portion protruding from the corresponding third electrode arrays when viewed in the normal direction, and assuming that a change amount of electrostatic capacitance between first and third electrode arrays occurred by an operation of the operating body is denoted by ?C1 and a change amount of electrostatic capacitance between the first and second electrode arrays occurred by an operation of the operating body is denoted by ?C2, a position of the operating body in the normal direction is calculated based on a ratio ?C1/?C2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junji Hashida, Toru Takahashi, Toru Sawada, Yoshifumi Masumoto, Shinichi Higuchi, Koji Tsukamoto, Tomoyuki Yamai, Akihiro Takeda, Sadakazu Shiga
  • Publication number: 20210255739
    Abstract: In an input device capable of reliably detecting, when an operator brings an operating body close to or into contact with an operation plane, absolute position information irrespective of a contact area size, third electrode arrays are disposed closer to the operation plane relative to second electrode arrays in a normal direction of the operation plane, the second electrode arrays have a portion protruding from the corresponding third electrode arrays when viewed in the normal direction, and assuming that a change amount of electrostatic capacitance between first and third electrode arrays occurred by an operation of the operating body is denoted by ?C1 and a change amount of electrostatic capacitance between the first and second electrode arrays occurred by an operation of the operating body is denoted by ?C2, a position of the operating body in the normal direction is calculated based on a ratio ?C1/?C2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventors: Junji HASHIDA, Toru TAKAHASHI, Toru SAWADA, Yoshifumi MASUMOTO, Shinichi HIGUCHI, Koji TSUKAMOTO, Tomoyuki YAMAI, Akihiro TAKEDA, Sadakazu SHIGA
  • Patent number: 10958078
    Abstract: A power generation module including: a power generation element; an AC generation circuit configured to convert DC current output from the power generation element into AC current; a module-side inductance element configured to generate a magnetic field from the AC current; a phase information acquiring circuit; and a control circuit; and a power-collector closed circuit including a power collector-side inductance element configured to electromagnetically couple to the module-side inductance element to generate an induced electromotive force, wherein, when reference AC current flowing in the power-collector closed circuit flows through the power collector-side inductance element, the module-side inductance element electromagnetically coupled to the power collector-side inductance element generates AC current corresponding to the reference AC current, and the control circuit acquires phase information related to the reference AC current via the phase information acquiring circuit so that the control circuit co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Sawada
  • Patent number: 10761663
    Abstract: An input device includes a translucent base material having flexibility, translucent first electrode parts arranged in a sensing region on the base material in a first direction, translucent second electrode parts arranged in the sensing region on the base material in a second direction crossing the first direction, and lead wires that are electrically continuous to the first electrode parts and second electrode parts, the lead wires extending from the sensing region on the base material to a peripheral region allocated outside the sensing region. A bent portion is provided in the peripheral region on the base material. Each lead wire has a flexible conductive member on the bent portion. A covering material is provided so as cover at least part of the flexible conductive member on the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suguru Wada, Toru Sawada, Junji Hashida, Yoshifumi Masumoto, Takenobu Horino, Atsushi Matsuda, Akihiro Takeda, Koji Tsukamoto, Toru Takahashi, Minoru Sato
  • Publication number: 20200220356
    Abstract: A power generation module including: a power generation element; an AC generation circuit configured to convert DC current output from the power generation element into AC current; a module-side inductance element configured to generate a magnetic field from the AC current; a phase information acquiring circuit; and a control circuit; and a power-collector closed circuit including a power collector-side inductance element configured to electromagnetically couple to the module-side inductance element to generate an induced electromotive force, wherein, when reference AC current flowing in the power-collector closed circuit flows through the power collector-side inductance element, the module-side inductance element electromagnetically coupled to the power collector-side inductance element generates AC current corresponding to the reference AC current, and the control circuit acquires phase information related to the reference AC current via the phase information acquiring circuit so that the control circuit co
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: KANEKA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Sawada
  • Patent number: 10409435
    Abstract: An input device that enables wires to be bent together with a base material without deteriorating translucency and conductivity of the wires has: a base material having translucency and flexibility; first electrode parts and second electrode parts, both having translucency, that are provided in a sensing region on the base material; and lead wires that are electrically continuous to the first electrode parts and second electrode parts, the lead wires extending, on the base material, from the sensing region to a peripheral region. A bent portion is provided in the peripheral region on the base material. Each lead wire has a flexible laminated body provided on the bent portion. The flexible laminated body has a first amorphous ITO layer provided on the base material, a conductive layer provided on the first amorphous ITO layer, and a second amorphous ITO layer provided on the conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suguru Wada, Junji Hashida, Toru Sawada, Atsushi Matsuda, Toru Takahashi, Minoru Sato
  • Patent number: 10310654
    Abstract: An input device includes a light-transmissive panel made of synthetic resin, an electrode layer, a decorative layer disposed on an inner surface of the panel, and an inner resin layer disposed on a surface of the decorative layer. The inner resin layer has a connection pattern on a surface thereof. The connection pattern is in electrical communication with the electrode layer. The input device further includes a flexible printed circuit board joined to the surface of the inner resin layer by thermocompression bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Hashida, Toru Sawada, Yoshifumi Masumoto, Atsushi Matsuda, Toru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10294909
    Abstract: An engine control device includes: an electronically controlled throttle which controls a flow rate of air-fuel mixture flowing into a cylinder of an engine by controlling a throttle opening angle electronically; an ignition device which ignites an air-fuel mixture existing in the cylinder; and an engine control unit which executes an ignition timing/throttle opening angle changing process of controlling the ignition device and the electronically controlled throttle while an operation of a body to be driven by the engine is in a steady state so as to advance a timing of ignition of an air-fuel mixture existing in the cylinder and to reduce the throttle opening angle while torque of the engine is kept constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru Sawada
  • Publication number: 20190050083
    Abstract: An input device includes a translucent base material having flexibility, translucent first electrode parts arranged in a sensing region on the base material in a first direction, translucent second electrode parts arranged in the sensing region on the base material in a second direction crossing the first direction, and lead wires that are electrically continuous to the first electrode parts and second electrode parts, the lead wires extending from the sensing region on the base material to a peripheral region allocated outside the sensing region. A bent portion is provided in the peripheral region on the base material. Each lead wire has a flexible conductive member on the bent portion. A covering material is provided so as cover at least part of the flexible conductive member on the base material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Inventors: Suguru WADA, Toru SAWADA, Junji HASHIDA, Yoshifumi MASUMOTO, Takenobu HORINO, Atsushi MATSUDA, Akihiro TAKEDA, Koji TSUKAMOTO, Toru TAKAHASHI, Minoru SATO
  • Publication number: 20180195486
    Abstract: An engine control device includes: an electronically controlled throttle which controls a flow rate of air-fuel mixture flowing into a cylinder of an engine by controlling a throttle opening angle electronically; an ignition device which ignites an air-fuel mixture existing in the cylinder; and an engine control unit which executes an ignition timing/throttle opening angle changing process of controlling the ignition device and the electronically controlled throttle while an operation of a body to be driven by the engine is in a steady state so as to advance a timing of ignition of an air-fuel mixture existing in the cylinder and to reduce the throttle opening angle while torque of the engine is kept constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toru SAWADA
  • Publication number: 20180074631
    Abstract: An input device includes a light-transmissive panel made of synthetic resin, an electrode layer, a decorative layer disposed on an inner surface of the panel, and an inner resin layer disposed on a surface of the decorative layer. The inner resin layer has a connection pattern on a surface thereof. The connection pattern is in electrical communication with the electrode layer. The input device further includes a flexible printed circuit board joined to the surface of the inner resin layer by thermocompression bonding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Junji HASHIDA, Toru SAWADA, Yoshifumi MASUMOTO, Atsushi MATSUDA, Toru TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20180046287
    Abstract: An input device that enables wires to be bent together with a base material without deteriorating translucency and conductivity of the wires has: a base material having translucency and flexibility; first electrode parts and second electrode parts, both having translucency, that are provided in a sensing region on the base material; and lead wires that are electrically continuous to the first electrode parts and second electrode parts, the lead wires extending, on the base material, from the sensing region to a peripheral region. A bent portion is provided in the peripheral region on the base material. Each lead wire has a flexible laminated body provided on the bent portion. The flexible laminated body has a first amorphous ITO layer provided on the base material, a conductive layer provided on the first amorphous ITO layer, and a second amorphous ITO layer provided on the conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Suguru WADA, Junji HASHIDA, Toru SAWADA, Atsushi MATSUDA, Toru TAKAHASHI, Minoru SATO
  • Patent number: 7851695
    Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to provide a stacked-type thin-film photoelectric conversion device having high photostability, at a high yield rate and significantly reduced production costs. In a stacked-type photoelectric conversion device having an amorphous silicon-based photoelectric conversion unit and a crystalline silicon-based photoelectric conversion unit stacked thereon or vice versa, an amorphous photoelectric conversion layer included in the amorphous photoelectric conversion unit has a thickness of at least 0.03 ?m and less than 0.17 ?m, a crystalline photoelectric conversion layer included in the crystalline photoelectric conversion unit has a thickness of at least 0.2 ?m and less than 1.0 ?m, and a silicon oxide layer of a first conductivity type included in the amorphous photoelectric conversion unit and a silicon layer of a second conductivity type included in the crystalline photoelectric conversion unit make a junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Sawada, Yuko Tawada, Takashi Suezaki, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7847186
    Abstract: According to the present invention, sufficient light trapping effect can be exhibited and series resistance can be kept small, by sequentially forming a silicon based low refractive index layer and a thin silicon based interface layer on a backside of a photoelectric conversion layer observed from a light incident side, and as a result a silicon based thin film solar cell may be provided efficiently and at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Sawada, Yohei Koi, Toshiaki Sasaki, Masashi Yoshimi, Masahiro Goto, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20090267828
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a GPS signal receiving apparatus comprises a receiving module configured to receive a GPS signal from a GPS satellite, an inclination detecting module configured to detect an inclination angle of the GPS signal receiving apparatus, a determining module configured to determine whether or not the receiving module receives a sufficient GPS signal to measure a position of the GPS signal receiving apparatus, and a notifying module configured to notify a user to change the inclination angle of the GPS signal receiving apparatus in accordance with the inclination angle detected by the inclination detecting module when the determining module determines that the sufficient GPS signal is not received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Koichi Kobayashi, Toru Sawada
  • Publication number: 20090165853
    Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to provide a stacked-type thin-film photoelectric conversion device having high photostability, at a high yield rate and significantly reduced production costs. In a stacked-type photoelectric conversion device having an amorphous silicon-based photoelectric conversion unit and a crystalline silicon-based photoelectric conversion unit stacked thereon or vice versa, an amorphous photoelectric conversion layer included in the amorphous photoelectric conversion unit has a thickness of at least 0.03 ?m and less than 0.17 ?m, a crystalline photoelectric conversion layer included in the crystalline photoelectric conversion unit has a thickness of at least 0.2 ?m and less than 1.0 ?m, and a silicon oxide layer of a first conductivity type included in the amorphous photoelectric conversion unit and a silicon layer of a second conductivity type included in the crystalline photoelectric conversion unit make a junction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Toru Sawada, Yuko Tawada, Takashi Suezaki, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20090059372
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical image stabilizer having a low sliding load, a smooth operation, and a small thickness. When a lens holder and an X slider are moved in the X direction, small balls roll between the side surface of the lens holder and the inner surface of a frame of a Y slider, thereby reducing a sliding load therebetween. When the lens holder and the Y slider are moved in the X direction, small balls roll between the side surface of the lens holder and the inner surface of the frame of the X slider, thereby reducing a sliding load therebetween. Therefore, it is possible to achieve an optical image stabilizer having low power consumption, a smooth operation, and high responsibility. In addition, the thickness of the lens holder is equal to or smaller than the sum of the thicknesses of the X slider and the Y slider overlapped with each other. Therefore, it is possible to achieve an optical image stabilizer having a small thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawauchi, Akihito Yamamoto, Toru Sawada