Patents by Inventor Akihiro Kawakami

Akihiro Kawakami 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: 20240102551
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a controller that switches a transmission mode of a transmission of a vehicle between an automatic shift mode and a temporary manual shift mode; and a storage unit storing maps each representing a relationship between a vehicle speed and an accelerator operation amount that are parameters for switching the transmission mode, and that are set for individual gradients of road on which the vehicle drives. The maps each include a cancellation region, a first maintenance region, and a second maintenance region, which are set to be different from each other according to the gradients. The controller includes a processor(s) and a memory(ies) coupled to the processor(s). The processor(s) executes a process including: selecting a map corresponding to a gradient of road on which the vehicle is driving; and switching the transmission mode based on the selected map, the vehicle speed and the accelerator operation amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji INOUE, Akihiro KAWAKAMI
  • Patent number: 11644097
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a torque converter, a transmission, and a control device. The torque converter is coupled to the engine. The transmission is coupled to the torque converter. The control device is configured to control operation of the transmission. The control device includes a controller configured to perform shift hold control to prevent upshift of the transmission based on a lateral acceleration value of the vehicle. The controller is configured to permit the upshift of the transmission by only one gear shift stage in a case where a predetermined condition is met in the shift hold control. The predetermined condition includes a condition that an index value indicating a rotation speed of an output shaft of the torque converter be higher than a first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuntaro Miura, Kenji Inoue, Akihiro Kawakami, Takahiro Okada
  • Publication number: 20230026614
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a torque converter, a transmission, and a control device. The torque converter is coupled to the engine. The transmission is coupled to the torque converter. The control device is configured to control operation of the transmission. The control device includes a controller configured to perform shift hold control to prevent upshift of the transmission based on a lateral acceleration value of the vehicle. The controller is configured to permit the upshift of the transmission by only one gear shift stage in a case where a predetermined condition is met in the shift hold control. The predetermined condition includes a condition that an index value indicating a rotation speed of an output shaft of the torque converter be higher than a first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuntaro MIURA, Kenji INOUE, Akihiro KAWAKAMI, Takahiro OKADA
  • Patent number: 11560215
    Abstract: An aircraft (100) includes a body (10) and an outer frame (1) rotatably coupled to the body (10). The body (10) includes a plurality of rotary blades (15a-15d) and a driver (14a-14d) configured to rotate the plurality of rotary blades (15a-15d). The outer frame (1) includes a rotary frame (1a-1c) rotatable about a rotation axis intersecting the direction of gravity, and a center of gravity of the plurality of rotary blades (15a-15d) and the driver (14a-14d) is located lower than the rotation axis in the direction of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Kawakami, Shinji Tezuka
  • Publication number: 20210163122
    Abstract: An aircraft (100) includes a body (10) and an outer frame (1) rotatably coupled to the body (10). The body (10) includes a plurality of rotary blades (15a-15d) and a driver (14a-14d) configured to rotate the plurality of rotary blades (15a-15d). The outer frame (1) includes a rotary frame (1a-1c) rotatable about a rotation axis intersecting the direction of gravity, and a center of gravity of the plurality of rotary blades (15a-15d) and the driver (14a-14d) is located lower than the rotation axis in the direction of gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Akihiro KAWAKAMI, Shinji TEZUKA
  • Patent number: 10946766
    Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle includes a battery, a mounting member, a switch, and a switch controller. The battery is configured to supply power for moving. On the mounting member, a supplementary battery configured to supply power for moving is detachably mountable. The switch is configured to switch connection of the battery and the supplementary battery mounted on the mounting member between series and parallel connections. The switch controller is configured to control the switch in accordance with condition information about the battery and condition information about the supplementary battery mounted on the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazu Hamada, Kosuke Hirabayashi, Kazuhiro Goto, Akihiro Kawakami, Satoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 10852689
    Abstract: A powder container is for use with an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes a driving protrusion that is rotatable and that protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The powder container includes a container body to store powder, a cap attached to the container body, and a transmitted structure provided on the cap to contact the driving protrusion. The transmitted structure extends outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The cap is rotatable relative to the container body in a predetermined angular range. The rotation of the cap relative to the container body is restricted so that the container body rotates along with the rotation of the cap when the rotation of the cap exceeds the predetermined angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Kiyonori Tsuda, Ryoichi Teranishi, Junichi Matsumoto, Toshio Koike, Yutaka Takahashi, Junji Yamabe, Akihiro Kawakami, Keinosuke Kondoh, Atsushi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20200233371
    Abstract: A powder container is for use with an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes a driving protrusion that is rotatable and that protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The powder container includes a container body to store powder, a cap attached to the container body, and a transmitted structure provided on the cap to contact the driving protrusion. The transmitted structure extends outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The cap is rotatable relative to the container body in a predetermined angular range. The rotation of the cap relative to the container body is restricted so that the container body rotates along with the rotation of the cap when the rotation of the cap exceeds the predetermined angular range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo TAKAMI, Kiyonori TSUDA, Ryoichi TERANISHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Toshio KOIKE, Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Junji YAMABE, Akihiro KAWAKAMI, Keinosuke KONDOH, Atsushi INOUE
  • Patent number: 10635043
    Abstract: A powder container is for use with an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes a driving protrusion that is rotatable and that protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The powder container includes a container body to store powder, a cap attached to the container body, and a transmitted structure provided on the cap to contact the driving protrusion. The transmitted structure extends outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The cap is rotatable relative to the container body in a predetermined angular range. The rotation of the cap relative to the container body is restricted so that the container body rotates along with the rotation of the cap when the rotation of the cap exceeds the predetermined angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Kiyonori Tsuda, Ryoichi Teranishi, Junichi Matsumoto, Toshio Koike, Yutaka Takahashi, Junji Yamabe, Akihiro Kawakami, Keinosuke Kondoh, Atsushi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20200086761
    Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle includes a battery, a mounting member, a switch, and a switch controller. The battery is configured to supply power for moving. On the mounting member, a supplementary battery configured to supply power for moving is detachably mountable. The switch is configured to switch connection of the battery and the supplementary battery mounted on the mounting member between series and parallel connections. The switch controller is configured to control the switch in accordance with condition information about the battery and condition information about the supplementary battery mounted on the mounting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazu HAMADA, Kosuke HIRABAYASHI, Kazuhiro GOTO, Akihiro KAWAKAMI, Satoshi INOUE
  • Publication number: 20190339642
    Abstract: A powder container is for use with an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes a driving protrusion that is rotatable and that protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The powder container includes a container body to store powder, a cap attached to the container body, and a transmitted structure provided on the cap to contact the driving protrusion. The transmitted structure extends outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The cap is rotatable relative to the container body in a predetermined angular range. The rotation of the cap relative to the container body is restricted so that the container body rotates along with the rotation of the cap when the rotation of the cap exceeds the predetermined angular range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Nobuo TAKAMI, Kiyonori TSUDA, Ryoichi TERANISHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Toshio KOIKE, Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Junji YAMABE, Akihiro KAWAKAMI, Keinosuke KONDOH, Atsushi INOUE
  • Patent number: 10394186
    Abstract: A powder container is for use with an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes a driving protrusion that is rotatable and that protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The powder container includes a container body to store powder, a cap attached to the container body, and a transmitted structure provided on the cap to contact the driving protrusion. The transmitted structure extends outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The cap is rotatable relative to the container body in a predetermined angular range. The rotation of the cap relative to the container body is restricted so that the container body rotates along with the rotation of the cap when the rotation of the cap exceeds the predetermined angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Kiyonori Tsuda, Ryoichi Teranishi, Junichi Matsumoto, Toshio Koike, Yutaka Takahashi, Junji Yamabe, Akihiro Kawakami, Keinosuke Kondoh, Atsushi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20190204775
    Abstract: A powder container is for use with an image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus includes a driving protrusion that is rotatable and that protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The powder container includes a container body to store powder, a cap attached to the container body, and a transmitted structure provided on the cap to contact the driving protrusion. The transmitted structure extends outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The cap is rotatable relative to the container body in a predetermined angular range. The rotation of the cap relative to the container body is restricted so that the container body rotates along with the rotation of the cap when the rotation of the cap exceeds the predetermined angular range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Nobuo TAKAMI, Kiyonori TSUDA, Ryoichi TERANISHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Toshio KOIKE, Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Junji YAMABE, Akihiro KAWAKAMI, Keinosuke KONDOH, Atsushi INOUE
  • Patent number: 10203650
    Abstract: A powder container is insertable in an image forming apparatus. The powder container includes a plurality of transmitted surfaces, at least one of the transmitted surfaces being configured to contact a first protrusion of the image forming, apparatus, the first protrusion being rotatable and protruding toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The transmitted surfaces stand outward from an outer circumference of the powder container so that one of the transmitted surfaces is connected to another transmitted surface adjacent to the one of the transmitted surfaces by an inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Kiyonori Tsuda, Ryoichi Teranishi, Junichi Matsumoto, Toshio Koike, Yutaka Takahashi, Junji Yamabe, Akihiro Kawakami, Keinosuke Kondoh, Atsushi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20180329358
    Abstract: A powder container is insertable in an image forming apparatus. The powder container includes a plurality of transmitted surfaces, at least one of the transmitted surfaces being configured to contact a first protrusion of the linage forming apparatus, the first protrusion being rotatable and protruding toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted. The transmitted surfaces stand outward from an outer circumference of the powder container so that one of the transmitted surfaces is connected to another transmitted surface adjacent to the one of the transmitted surfaces by an inclined surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Kiyonori Tsuda, Ryoichi Teranishi, Junichi Matsumoto, Toshio Koike, Yutaka Takahashi, Junji Yamabe, Akihiro Kawakami, Keinosuke Kondoh, Atsushi Inoue
  • Patent number: 10048644
    Abstract: A powder container is insertable in an image forming apparatus, and includes a main-body interlocking portion that is rotatable and protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted, the image forming apparatus including an identifier protrusion that protrudes toward the upstream side in the insertion direction to identify a type of the powder container. The powder container includes a container interlocking portion configured to interlock with the main-body interlocking portion; and an interlocked portion configured to interlock with the identifier protrusion. The interlocked portion is provided in a front end of the powder container in the insertion direction. The container interlocking portion stands outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The container interlocking portion and the interlocked portion are rotated integrally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Nobuo Takami, Kiyonori Tsuda, Ryoichi Teranishi, Junichi Matsumoto, Toshio Koike, Yutaka Takahashi, Junji Yamabe, Akihiro Kawakami, Keinosuke Kondoh, Atsushi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20170227922
    Abstract: A powder container is insertable in an image forming apparatus, and includes a main-body interlocking portion that is rotatable and protrudes toward an upstream side in an insertion direction in which the powder container is inserted, the image forming apparatus including an identifier protrusion that protrudes toward the upstream side in the insertion direction to identify a type of the powder container. The powder container includes a container interlocking portion configured to interlock with the main-body interlocking portion; and an interlocked portion configured to interlock with the identifier protrusion. The interlocked portion is provided in a front end of the powder container in the insertion direction. The container interlocking portion stands outward from an outer circumference of the powder container. The container interlocking portion and the interlocked portion are rotated integrally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Nobuo TAKAMI, Kiyonori TSUDA, Ryoichi TERANISHI, Junichi MATSUMOTO, Toshio KOIKE, Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Junji YAMABE, Akihiro KAWAKAMI, Keinosuke KONDOH, Atsushi INOUE
  • Patent number: 9547257
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a developer conveyance device to transport developer, using a positive-displacement pump to alternately generate positive pressure and negative pressure by changing a volume of an internal space thereof, a destination developer container to which the developer conveyance device transports developer, a sensor provided to the destination developer container, to detect developer in the destination developer container, and a controller to control the positive-displacement pump according to a detection result generated by the sensor. The controller disabled detection of developer by the sensor in a non-detection period that starts from a stop of the positive-displacement pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Kiyonori Tsuda, Nobuo Takami, Yutaka Takahashi, Kentaro Mikuniya, Keinosuke Kondoh, Akihiro Kawakami, Toshio Koike
  • Publication number: 20160026113
    Abstract: A developing device includes a developer including a toner, a developer carrier to carry the developer to an image forming area opposing to a latent image bearing member with rotate, a development casing storing the developer, and a developing bias applying member to apply a developing bias to the developer carrier. There is a contacting part to contact a contacting member grounded electrically and disposed at the development casing, and a gap adjusting member to form a gap between the gap adjusting member and the developing carrier. The gap adjusting member is disposed downstream of a rotating direction of the developer carrier. The development casing is conductive, and an insulation member to insulate the gap adjusting member from the development casing is disposed between the gap adjusting member and the development casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Yutaka TAKAHASHI, Toshio KOIKE, Keinosuke KONDOH, Akihiro KAWAKAMI, Kentaro MIKUNIYA
  • Patent number: 9201336
    Abstract: A developing device including: a toner bearing member configured to bear a toner on a surface of the toner bearing member and configured such that the surface thereof is rotated to supply the toner to and develop a latent electrostatic image on a surface of a latent electrostatic image bearing member in a developing region which faces the latent electrostatic image bearing member; and a regulating member configured to regulate an amount of the toner to be moved towards the developing region, wherein the surface of the toner bearing member has regularly arranged convex portions, and wherein a non-electrostatic adhesive force between the toner and the surface of the toner bearing member is less than 9.0 nN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Endou, Yasuyuki Ishii, Yoshiko Ogawa, Yuuji Ishikura, Hideyasu Seki, Toshio Koike, Akihiro Kawakami