Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt
  • Controller for vehicle continuously variable transmission
    Patent number: 8352134
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle continuously variable transmission is disclosed. When a target gear ratio is set as the maximum gear ratio and a vehicle speed is decreased to less than a first reference vehicle speed, the controller suspends varying of the gear ratio by the transmission control and starts a gear ratio hold control that releases operational oil from a first oil pressure chamber and holds the gear ratio at the maximum gear ratio. Further, the controller ends the gear ratio hold control and delivers operational oil to the first oil pressure chamber when the vehicle speed increases to a second reference vehicle speed or greater, which is lower than the first reference vehicle speed, and restarts the varying of the gear ratio by the transmission control when the vehicle speed subsequently increases to the first reference speed or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunio Hattori, Shinya Toyoda, Naoto Tanaka
  • Imaging apparatus that sequentially executes start-up processing based on detected movement
    Patent number: 8350958
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: plurality of control units configured to control an imaging function; a requesting unit configured to request execution of start-up processing of a plurality of the control units; a detecting unit configured to detect movement to be applied to a device main unit; and a start-up control unit configured to cause, upon the detecting unit detecting particular movement in a power-off state wherein the movement of the device main unit externally appears to be stopped, each of a plurality of the control units to start the start-up processing still in the power-off state, and upon execution of the start-up processing being requested from the requesting unit, cause a plurality of the control units to start reception of an imaging command according to the states of the start-up processing of a plurality of the control units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Manabu Niizato
  • Cation exchange membrane, production process thereof and electrolytic cell using the same
    Patent number: 8349155
    Abstract: A cation exchange membrane which shows suppressed deterioration of the strength of the membrane in the upper portion of an electrolytic cell when the membrane is employed in the electrolytic cell and used for a long term, which can perform electrolysis with good production efficiency, and which can be produced simply with low cost; its production process and; such an electrolytic cell; are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kazuo Umemura, Hiromitsu Kusano
  • Information processing apparatus including first and second data processors having plural power consumption modes and associated methodology
    Patent number: 8352664
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including a first data processor processing data sent from an external device, which can switch a power consumption mode thereof; a switcher configured to switch the mode of the first data processing device from the standard power mode to a power saving mode or vice versa; and a second data processor processing the data sent from the external device when the first data processor is in the power saving mode. The second data processor includes a first judging device making a judgment whether the data are to be processed by the first or second data processor depending on the data; and a connection establishing device establishing communication connection with the external device when the first judging device cannot make the judgment from the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Shohichi Satoh
  • Cartridge system
    Patent number: 8351149
    Abstract: When inserted in the slot 150 of the storage unit main body 100, the cartridge-type HDD 200a is situated with the slight clearance between the protrusion 164 of the slot 150 and the upper surface of the cartridge-type HDD 200a. In addition, the protrusion 166 of the slot 150 is loosely fitted in the recess 216 of the cartridge-type HDD 200a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Buffalo Inc.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Kouyama, Satoru Goto, Takayuki Kakuta, Hiroaki Kawasaki, Takashi Ishidoshiro
  • Cavity closure process for at least one microelectronic device
    Patent number: 8349660
    Abstract: A process for closure of at least one cavity intended to encapsulate or be part of a microelectronic device, comprising the following steps: a) Producing a cavity in a first substrate comprising a first layer traversed by an opening forming an access to the cavity; b) Producing a portion of bond material around the opening, on a surface of the first layer located on the side opposite the cavity; c) Producing, on a second substrate, a portion of fusible material, with a deposition of the fusible material on the second substrate and the use of a mask; d) Placing the portion of fusible material in contact with the portion of bond material; e) Forming a plug for the opening, which adheres to the portion of bond material, by melting and then solidification of the fusible material; f) Separating the plug and the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Gilles Delapierre, Bernard Diem, Francois Perruchot
  • Polymer electrolyte membrane, membrane-electrode assembly and polymer electrolyte fuel cell
    Patent number: 8349513
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane comprising as a main ingredient a block copolymer which comprises, as its constituents, a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit and a polymer block (B) forming a flexible phase, and has ion-conducting groups on the polymer block (A), said aromatic vinyl compound unit being such that the hydrogen atom bonded to the ?-carbon atom is non-replaced or replaced with an alkyl group or an aryl group optionally having substituent(s), and at least one of hydrogen atoms directly bonded to the aromatic ring is replaced with an alkyl group; and a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell both of which uses it. The polymer block (A) can have a restraining phase, and/or can be cross-linked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ono, Shinji Nakai, Hiroyuki Ogi, Takeshi Nakano
  • Brake control device for vehicle
    Patent number: 8348353
    Abstract: A brake control device that controls braking forces applied to wheels to stabilize the behavior of a vehicle turning a corner, and includes a turning condition detection unit detecting a turning condition of the vehicle; a braking amount setting unit setting braking amounts for the respective wheels based on the turning condition detected by the turning condition detection unit; a brake control unit applying braking forces to the wheels according to the braking amounts set by the braking amount setting unit; and a road surface friction coefficient estimation unit estimating a road surface friction coefficient of the road on which the vehicle is running. The braking amount setting unit changes upper limits of the braking amounts for the respective wheels according to the road surface friction coefficient when the vehicle is in a center differential lock mode or a direct four-wheel drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Yamada, Yasushi Kobayashi, Tatsushi Takasu, Kota Shimoga
  • Method for producing high dry strength paper, paperboard or cardboard
    Patent number: 8349134
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing paper, board and cardboard of high dry strength by separately adding a polymer comprising vinylamine units and a polymeric anionic compound to a paper pulp, dewatering the pulp and drying the paper products, which comprises using as polymeric anionic compound at least one copolymer obtainable by copolymerizing (a) at least one N-vinylcarboxamide of the formula in which R1 and R2 are H or C1- to C6 alkyl, (b) at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising acid groups, and/or the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salts thereof, and if appropriate (c) other monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, and if appropriate (d) compounds having at least two ethylenically unsaturated double bonds in their molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Anton Esser, Hans-Joachim Haehnle, Martin Ruebenacker, Norbert Schall, Jacques Dupuis, Josef Neutzner, Manfred Niessner, Berthold Sturm
  • Nonaqueous battery with composite negative electrode
    Patent number: 8349495
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing a lithium-titanium composite oxide and a lithium-absorbing material in a weight ratio falling within the range defined in formula (1) given below, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The lithium-absorbing material has a lithium absorption potential nobler than a lithium absorption potential of the lithium-titanium composite oxide. 3?(A/B)?100??(1) Where A denotes the weight (parts by weight) of the lithium-titanium composite oxide, and B denotes the weight (parts by weight) of the lithium-absorbing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroki Inagaki, Hideaki Morishima, Norio Takami
  • Client device and associated methodology of accessing networked services
    Patent number: 8352545
    Abstract: A system makes it possible to use services offered by a plurality of servers different from one another is realized with the use of a common API. The system includes a plurality of service-offering servers, a client that uses services offered by the plurality of service-offering servers, and an interchange server that performs intermediary processing when the client uses a service. The client performs communication with the interchange server while using a common API when using any service among a plurality of services offered by the plurality of service-offering servers. The interchange server uses a unique API, which is unique to the service-offering server that offers the service selected by the client, to execute a processing sequence that is unique to the service-offering server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Takakura, Anna Gershnik, Brian Beaver, Charles McCoy
  • Method and arrangement for power control
    Patent number: 8351975
    Abstract: A method for setting a power control level (600) in a wireless communication system. The method includes the steps of obtaining (620) transmission information from a wireless subscriber unit, and modifying a power control level and/or a communication channel format (660) in response to said transmission information. Preferably, the transmission information is re-transmission requests from a wireless subscriber unit, which are transmitted frequently. In this manner, rapid adjustment of power control can be attained utilizing an optimal selection of the available communication channel format, followed by a fine-tuning power control operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas William Anderson
  • Process for lubricating a refrigerator containing sliding parts made of an engineering plastic material
    Patent number: 8349206
    Abstract: A process to lubricate a refrigerator preferably having a sliding portion which is made of an engineering plastic material, or provided thereon with an organic coating film or an inorganic coating film is provided. The process includes contacting sliding parts of the refrigerator with a refrigerating machine oil composition having a base oil containing a polyvinyl ether and/or a polyoxyalkylene glycol derivative as a main component and having a kinematic viscosity of 1 to 8 mm2/s as measured at 40° C. The refrigerating machine oil composition has a low viscosity, an improved energy saving performance, a good sealability and an excellent compatibility with a refrigerant and, therefore, the process can be suitably used in various refrigerating application fields, in particular, in closed-system refrigerators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Kaneko
  • Planar light source device and method of manufacturing divided prism mold
    Patent number: 8348490
    Abstract: A planar light source device capable of increasing light use efficiency and preventing color breakup without using any reflection polarizing plate nor performing multiple reflection. The planar light source device includes a planar light guide plate, light sources arranged as to be opposed to end surfaces of the light guide plate on its both sides, and a divided prism formed in a back surface inside the light guide plate and that reflects light incident upon the light guide plate from the light sources toward a front surface side of the light guide plate. The divided prism includes a prism portion and a dividing portion both of which have a width equal to or less than the wavelength of light from the light sources and is formed with the prism portion and the dividing portion alternately repeated along a direction parallel to the end surfaces of the light guide plate which are opposed to the light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akimasa Yuuki, Kenji Itoga, Naoko Iwasaki, Suguru Nagae
  • Wiring board with built-in electronic component and method of manufacturing same
    Patent number: 8347493
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wiring board with a built-in electronic component including providing a first base material having a support body and a first metal foil detachably adhered on the support body, forming a connection terminal for mounting an electronic component on the first metal foil of the first base material by an additive method, mounting an electronic component to the connection terminal such that the electronic component is electrically connected to the connection terminal and mounted on the first base material, covering the electronic component with an insulative material structure having a hollow portion such that the electronic component is accommodated in the hollow portion of the insulative material structure after the mounting and detaching the support body from the first metal foil such that a substrate having the first base material and the insulative material structure is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Taniguchi, Toshiki Furutani, Takeshi Furusawa, Takashi Kariya
  • Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and image forming method
    Patent number: 8346150
    Abstract: In a fixing device, an opposing member contacts a heating member to form a fixing nip between the heating member and the opposing member. A driver rotatively drives at least one of the heating member and the opposing member. A sheet supplier supplies and conveys a sheet to the fixing nip. A recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image is conveyed through a gap between the sheet and the opposing member at the fixing nip with a side of the recording medium bearing the unfixed toner image facing the sheet. At least one of the rotating heating member and the rotating opposing member applies a driving force to the sheet supplied to the fixing nip while the sheet contacts the sheet supplier to apply tension to the sheet at a position upstream from the fixing nip in a sheet conveyance direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomofumi Inoue, Shuuichi Nakagawa, Hidekazu Shono
  • Mutant of the proB gene from coryneform bacteria
    Patent number: 8343734
    Abstract: The invention relates to processes for fermentative production of L-proline using bacteria which contain mutated variants of the proB gene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Hans, Brigitte Bathe, Georg Thierbach
  • Cooling member included fixing device and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8346112
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a heating member that heats an unfixed toner image on a printing medium, a conveyance device that conveys the printing medium launched from the heating member after the heating member heats the unfixed toner image, and a heat temperature detection device that detects heat temperature of the heating member. An excessive temperature rise prevention device is provided to forcibly cut off power distribution to the heating member when the heat temperature reaches an abnormal level. A cooling device is provided to cool the excessive temperature rise prevention device. Further provided is a cooling device use control device that controls the cooling device to cool the excessive temperature rise prevention device when the conveyance device stops a conveyance operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiharu Hachisuka
  • Optical selector switch and signal-processing apparatus
    Patent number: 8346034
    Abstract: An optical selector includes: an optical waveguide which includes a first light guide section having a first refractive index, a second light guide section having a second refractive index provided to the side of and along the entire circumference of the first light guide section, and a reflector provided at opposing positions on both surfaces of each of the first and second light guide sections while exposing the outer circumferential surface of the second light guide section; a single or plurality of LDs that are placed on the outer circumference of the optical waveguide, and emit light toward the first light guide section; and a single or plurality of photodetectors that are placed on the outer circumference of the optical waveguide, and receive light emitted from the outer circumference of the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Hayakawa, Kazuo Haraoka, Masaaki Hattori, Naoki Kaneko, Tetsujiro Kondo, Hidehiko Sekizawa, Nozomu Ozaki, Seiji Wada, Toshiyuki Sekiya, Shinji Sangawa
  • Transmission rate control method and communication device
    Patent number: 8345551
    Abstract: There is provided a transmission rate control method. In this method, data is transmitted to a receiver at the most recent transmission rate RSNDt?1, and an RTCP packet including a reception rate RRCVt of the data is received from the receiver. When a network is in a congestion state, or when the network is in a non-congestion state and the most recent reception achievement rate RARt?1 is higher than the reception rate RRCVt, a reception achievement rate RARt is calculated as a long-term EWMA of the reception rate RRCV. When the network is in the non-congestion state and the most recent reception achievement rate RARt?1 is lower than the reception rate RRCVt, or when a time-out of the RTCP packet occurs, the reception achievement rate RARt is calculated as a short-term EWMA of the reception rate RRCV. A transmission rate RSNDt is set based on the reception achievement rate RARt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Wakuda, Tomoya Oikawa