Patents by Inventor Akihiko Sakai

Akihiko Sakai 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: 20240146161
    Abstract: A magnetic geared electrical machine includes: a stator; a magnetic pole piece rotor including a plurality of magnetic pole pieces disposed radially inward of the stator; an inner rotor including a plurality of rotor magnets, disposed radially inward of the plurality of magnetic pole pieces, and configured to rotate at a higher speed than the magnetic pole piece rotor; and a fan for cooling at least one of the stator, the magnetic pole piece rotor, or the inner rotor. The magnetic pole piece rotor further includes a power transmission shaft disposed on one side in an axial direction relative to the plurality of magnetic pole pieces, and configured to transmit rotational power to and from an external device. The fan is disposed in the inner rotor on an opposite side to the power transmission shaft with the rotor magnet therebetween in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki SAKAI, Yasutaka AOKI, Akihiko UMEDA, Atsushi YUGE
  • Publication number: 20240110269
    Abstract: A degradable structural member made of a magnesium alloy is produced, the degradable structural member having a sufficient strength and being degradable at a proper timing in an aqueous environment. The magnesium alloy used (i) contains not less than 7.0% by mass and not more than 13.0% by mass of Al, not less than 4.5% by mass and not more than 13.0% by mass of Cu, and not less than 0% by mass and less than 0.10% by mass of Mn, with the balance being Mg and unavoidable impurities; and (ii) includes finely dispersed intermetallic compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Takahiro SAKAI, Akihiko KOSHI, Masaaki YAMAMOTO, Jinsun LIAO
  • Publication number: 20240091185
    Abstract: Compositions, containing glycine and serine and having a content ratio of glycine to serine (glycine/serine) of not less than 0.6 in weight ratio are effective for improving cognitive function, and have an effective preventive or improving effect on a decline in cognitive function and cognitive dysfunction, are highly safe, and enable continuous ingestion or administration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicant: AJINOMOTO CO., INC.
    Inventors: Hidehiro NAKAMURA, Noriko KAWASAKI, Yasuko KAWAMATA, Akihiko KITAMURA, Ryosei SAKAI, Fumika TAKEUCHI
  • Patent number: 10762955
    Abstract: A memory system includes a storage device and a controller. The storage device includes a first string including a first memory cell transistor and a second memory cell transistor connected in series to each other, and a first select transistor, a second string including a third memory cell transistor and a second select transistor, a gate of the second select transistor being independent from a gate of the first select transistor. The controller configured to perform first writing to cause a threshold voltage of the first memory cell transistor to be lower than a first target threshold voltage, perform second writing to cause a threshold voltage of the second memory cell transistor to be higher than a second target threshold voltage after the first writing, perform third writing to cause a threshold voltage of the first memory cell transistor to be higher than the first target threshold voltage after the second writing, and perform fourth writing on the third memory cell transistor after the third writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Sakai, Masanobu Shirakawa, Marie Takada
  • Publication number: 20200090740
    Abstract: A memory system includes a storage device and a controller. The storage device includes a first string including a first memory cell transistor and a second memory cell transistor connected in series to each other, and a first select transistor, a second string including a third memory cell transistor and a second select transistor, a gate of the second select transistor being independent from a gate of the first select transistor. The controller configured to perform first writing to cause a threshold voltage of the first memory cell transistor to be lower than a first target threshold voltage, perform second writing to cause a threshold voltage of the second memory cell transistor to be higher than a second target threshold voltage after the first writing, perform third writing to cause a threshold voltage of the first memory cell transistor to be higher than the first target threshold voltage after the second writing, and perform fourth writing on the third memory cell transistor after the third writing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Akihiko SAKAI, Masanobu SHIRAKAWA, Marie TAKADA
  • Patent number: 8804154
    Abstract: This invention provides an image forming apparatus to which a distributed control system is applied and which improves error detection accuracy in each control unit. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus includes a master control unit which controls the overall image forming apparatus, a plurality of sub-master control units which control a plurality of functions required to implement image formation, and a plurality of slave control units which control loads required to implement the plurality of functions. Each slave control unit includes a monitoring unit which monitors the operation of the other active slave control unit and performs an error diagnosis when the slave control unit is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Otani, Akihiko Sakai, Keita Takahashi, Hirotaka Seki, Shoji Takeda, Satoru Yamamoto, Shigeo Hata
  • Patent number: 8576427
    Abstract: There are provided an image forming apparatus which implements divisional control using a plurality of control units without an increase in cost and a control method for the apparatus. To accomplish this, this image forming apparatus includes a master control unit that controls the overall image forming apparatus, a plurality of sub-master control units that control a plurality of functions for performing image formation, and a plurality of salve control units that control loads for implementing a plurality of functions. The master control unit is connected to the plurality of sub-master control units via first signal lines. The plurality of sub-master control units are connected to the plurality of slave control units via second signal lines higher in data transfer timing accuracy than the first signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Sakai, Atsushi Otani, Shigeo Hata, Shoji Takeda, Satoru Yamamoto, Keita Takahashi, Hirotaka Seki
  • Patent number: 8503013
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which adopts a distributed control system and suppresses generation of radiation noise without increasing the cost. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus includes a master control unit that controls the overall image forming apparatus, a plurality of sub-master control units that control a plurality of functions for performing image formation, and a plurality of salve control units that control loads for implementing a plurality of functions. The image forming apparatus performs distributed control. The image forming apparatus determines the operating frequencies of the salve control units in accordance with loads controlled by the salve control units. The image forming apparatus compares the operating frequencies of the slave control units. Based on the comparison result, the image forming apparatus changes the operating frequency of a slave control unit that is equal to the operating frequency of another slave control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirotaka Seki, Shigeo Hata, Atsushi Otani, Akihiko Sakai, Shoji Takeda, Satoru Yamamoto, Keita Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8422050
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided that can perform distributed control for a plurality of operation units, without concentrating control in a single device. The apparatus includes a plurality of modules that respectively correspond to a plurality of operation units, each module including a communication device, a functional block setting device and a functional block connected with a corresponding operation unit. The functional block has a register that holds, in an updateable condition, control values relating to various controls of the corresponding operation unit. Each module is triggered by an operation start signal input to a start terminal of the communication device to start an operation for controlling a corresponding operation unit in accordance with each control value held in the register device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kitahara, Junichi Into, Eiichi Motoyama, Masao Watanabe, Tsunao Hombo, Akihiko Sakai, Masatoshi Yaginuma
  • Patent number: 8355145
    Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes, even when an abnormality of operation occurs in any of a plurality of modules to which an assigned operation in a plurality of operations for an image formation is assigned and which autonomously executes the assigned operation, each of the modules can autonomously perform a particular operation for eliminating an abnormality of operation at a module in which an abnormality occurs. When detecting the module in which the abnormality of operation occurs based on operation abnormality generation condition information in each of the modules stored in the shared data module, the plurality of modules provided in the image forming apparatus each perform an operation (a particular operation) for eliminating the abnormality of operation in accordance with the module in which the abnormality of operation occurs and the contents of the abnormality of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiichi Motoyama, Junichi Into, Toshihiko Kitahara, Masao Watanabe, Tsunao Hombo, Akihiko Sakai, Masatoshi Yaginuma
  • Patent number: 8341461
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which adopts a distributed control system and increases the error detection accuracy of each control unit. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus includes a master control unit that controls the overall image forming apparatus, a plurality of sub-master control units that control a plurality of functions for performing image formation, and a plurality of slave control units that control loads for implementing a plurality of functions. The master control unit determines a diagnosis path for performing a diagnosis process for an error using the signal lines and a connection bridge connected to the respective control units. The master control unit performs the diagnosis process for an error in accordance with the determined diagnosis path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Otani, Shigeo Hata, Akihiko Sakai, Shoji Takeda, Satoru Yamamoto, Keita Takahashi, Hirotaka Seki
  • Patent number: 8229315
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of avoiding unnecessary switching operation to switch between a one-sided printing and a two-sided printing to improve print productivity. A printing mode is switched between a two-sided printing mode to continuously form images on first sides of a predetermined number of sheets and to alternately form images on second sides of sheets conveyed along a sheet re-feeding conveyance path and on the first sides of sheets fed from a sheet feeding unit, and a one-sided printing mode without using the sheet re-feeding conveyance path. It is determined that, when a one-sided print job is performed between a two-sided print jobs, whether the one-sided print job is performed in the two-sided printing mode as-is or in the one-sided printing mode, depending on whether the number of sheets continuously printed by the one-sided print job is more than a predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiko Sakai
  • Publication number: 20120141886
    Abstract: A subject for the invention is to improve the cycle characteristics of a high-capacity secondary battery containing an active material packet at a high density, by using a particulate active material having a low aspect ratio. The invention relates to a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery comprising a negative electrode and a positive electrode each capable of occluding/releasing lithium, a separator, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution comprising a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt, characterized in that the separator comprises a porous film made of a thermoplastic resin containing an inorganic filler, and at least either of the following is satisfied: the active material contained in the negative electrode is a particulate active material having an aspect ratio of from 1.02 to 3; and the active material contained in the positive electrode is a particulate active material having an aspect ratio of from 1.02 to 2.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicants: Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc., MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi NAKASHIMA, Yasushi USAMI, Akihiko SAKAI, Manabu HAYASHI, Ryoichi KATO
  • Publication number: 20120141887
    Abstract: A subject for the invention is to improve the cycle characteristics of a high-capacity secondary battery containing an active material packed at a high density, by using a particulate active material having a low aspect ratio. The invention relates to a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery comprising a negative electrode and a positive electrode each capable of occluding/releasing lithium, a separator, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution comprising a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt, characterized in that the separator comprises a porous film made of a thermoplastic resin containing an inorganic filler, and at least either of the following is satisfied: the active material contained in the negative electrode is a particulate active material having an aspect ratio of from 1.02 to 3; and the active material contained in the positive electrode is a particulate active material having an aspect ratio of from 1.02 to 2.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicants: Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc., MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi NAKASHIMA, Yasushi USAMI, Akihiko SAKAI, Manabu HAYASHI, Ryoichi KATO
  • Publication number: 20120141885
    Abstract: A subject for the invention is to improve the cycle characteristics of a high-capacity secondary battery containing an active material packed at a high density, by using a particulate active material having a low aspect ratio. The invention relates to a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery comprising a negative electrode and a positive electrode each capable of occluding/releasing lithium, a separator, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution comprising a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt, characterized in that the separator comprises a porous film made of a thermoplastic resin containing an inorganic filler, and at least either of the following is satisfied: the active material contained in the negative electrode is a particulate active material having an aspect ratio of from 1.02 to 3; and the active material contained in the positive electrode is a particulate active material having an aspect ratio of from 1.02 to 2.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicants: Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc., MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi NAKASHIMA, Yasushi USAMI, Akihiko SAKAI, Manabu HAYASHI, Ryoichi KATO
  • Publication number: 20120135317
    Abstract: A subject for the invention is to improve the cycle characteristics of a high-capacity secondary battery containing an active material packed at a high density, by using a particulate active material having a low aspect ratio. The invention relates to a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery comprising a negative electrode and a positive electrode each capable of occluding/releasing lithium, a separator, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution comprising a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt, characterized in that the separator comprises a porous film made of a thermoplastic resin containing an inorganic filler, and at least either of the following is satisfied: the active material contained in the negative electrode is a particulate active material having an aspect ratio of from 1.02 to 3; and the active material contained in the positive electrode is a particulate active material having an aspect ratio of from 1.02 to 2.2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicants: Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc., MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi NAKASHIMA, Yasushi Usami, Akihiko Sakai, Manabu Hayashi, Ryoichi Kato
  • Patent number: 8137846
    Abstract: A subject for the invention is to improve the cycle characteristics of a high-capacity secondary battery containing an active material packed at a high density, by using a particulate active material having a low aspect ratio. The invention relates to a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery comprising a negative electrode and a positive electrode each capable of occluding/releasing lithium, a separator, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution comprising a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt, characterized in that the separator comprises a porous film made of a thermoplastic resin containing an inorganic filler, and at least either of the following is satisfied: the active material contained in the negative electrode is a particulate active material having an aspect ratio of from 1.02 to 3; and the active material contained in the positive electrode is a particulate active material having an aspect ratio of from 1.02 to 2.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakashima, Yasushi Usami, Akihiko Sakai, Manabu Hayashi, Ryoichi Kato
  • Patent number: 7860697
    Abstract: A simulating system having: a data retrieving device which time-sequentially retrieves a control value which is outputted from a control system in an image forming apparatus to a controlled system and an input value inputted from the controlled system to the control system as a control result; a data storing device which stores a time-series data group including a plurality of control values and the input values corresponding to the control values; and a simulating device which simulates the control result of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the control value outputted to the controlled system in accordance with an algorithm, wherein a correlation between each of the control values and the input value corresponding to each of the control values included in the time-series data group has been implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiko Sakai, Toshio Hayashi, Masashi Oyumi
  • Publication number: 20100296831
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is capable of avoiding unnecessary switching operation to switch between a one-sided printing and a two-sided printing to improve print productivity. A printing mode is switched between a two-sided printing mode to continuously form images on first sides of a predetermined number of sheets and to alternately form images on second sides of sheets conveyed along a sheet re-feeding conveyance path and on the first sides of sheets fed from a sheet feeding unit, and a one-sided printing mode without using the sheet re-feeding conveyance path. It is determined that, when a one-sided print job is performed between a two-sided print jobs, whether the one-sided print job is performed in the two-sided printing mode as-is or in the one-sided printing mode, depending on whether the number of sheets continuously printed by the one-sided print job is more than a predetermined number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko Sakai
  • Publication number: 20100272454
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which adopts a distributed control system and suppresses generation of radiation noise without increasing the cost. To accomplish this, the image forming apparatus includes a master control unit that controls the overall image forming apparatus, a plurality of sub-master control units that control a plurality of functions for performing image formation, and a plurality of salve control units that control loads for implementing a plurality of functions. The image forming apparatus performs distributed control. The image forming apparatus determines the operating frequencies of the salve control units in accordance with loads controlled by the salve control units. The image forming apparatus compares the operating frequencies of the slave control units. Based on the comparison result, the image forming apparatus changes the operating frequency of a slave control unit that is equal to the operating frequency of another slave control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotaka Seki, Shigeo Hata, Atsushi Otani, Akihiko Sakai, Shoji Takeda, Satoru Yamamoto, Keita Takahashi