Patents by Inventor Akihiro Maeda

Akihiro Maeda 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: 8097056
    Abstract: An air cleaner unit for an internal combustion engine includes a casing and a filter element disposed in the casing. The casing includes a first case member having a first opening and a first sealing surface on a periphery of the first opening and a second case member having a second opening and a second sealing surface on a periphery of the second opening. The first case member and the second case member are coupled such that the first and second openings are opposed in a substantially horizontal direction of a vehicle. The filter element has a peripheral portion that is interposed between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface. The first case member includes a side wall and a projection that projects from an inner surface of the side wall. The filter element is held in a substantially vertical position in the casing through the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihisa Sasano, Akihiro Maeda, Akira Nakawatase, Ryuji Kanzaka, Yuji Matsubara, Shingo Kimura, Akira Enomoto, Kazuya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7998233
    Abstract: An air cleaner unit for a vehicle includes an air cleaner element and an air cleaner housing to be arranged generally above ring portions of a fan shroud. The air cleaner element is disposed in the air cleaner housing such that a predetermined space is provided between a lower surface of the air cleaner element and an inner surface of a bottom wall of the air cleaner housing. The bottom wall of the air cleaner housing includes at least two arcuate portions to correspond to the ring portions of the fan shroud and a projecting portion between the arcuate portions. The projecting portion projects downwardly and is configured to increase the volume of the predetermined space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Maeda, Shinichi Oda, Atsushi Hirota
  • Publication number: 20110164341
    Abstract: There are provided a substrate sheet, a plurality of design portions arranged independently from each other along a longitudinal direction of the substrate sheet and each including at least a conductive material portion, and a band-shaped static eliminating band portion extending continuously along the longitudinal direction of the substrate sheet and electrically connecting the conductive material portions in the plurality of design portions to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nagai, Masaki Kashiwagi, Shigeru Hinoshita, Masato Oonishi, Takeshi Sanada, Kazuo Arai, Akihiro Maeda, Hiromitsu Muko
  • Publication number: 20110158664
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus capable of performing stable charging and thus stable image formation over a long term by changing a charge control method based on various environments. An engine control section serves as a first applied voltage determining unit, obtains a relationship between an applied voltage and a discharge current amount to a charging roller, and determines a voltage value of an applied voltage corresponding to a predetermined discharge current amount. The engine control section serves as a second applied voltage determining unit and determines a voltage value of a voltage to be applied to the charging roller based on the environment information detected by the environmental sensor. The engine control section selects, as the voltage to be applied to the charging roller, any one of the voltage values determined by the first and the second applied voltage determining units based oh the environment information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: CANON FINETECH INC.
    Inventors: Daigo HOTOMI, Akihiro MAEDA, Motohiro OGURA
  • Patent number: 7882913
    Abstract: A cooling module capable of reducing vibration in a compartment attributable to the discharge pulsation of the compressor is disclosed. The cooling module comprises a radiator (1) mounted to a vehicle for cooling the cooling water by heat exchange between the cooling water and the air, and a condenser (2) for condensing the refrigerant by heat exchange between the refrigerant circulated in the refrigeration cycle and the air. The radiator (1) is fixed to the vehicle, and the condenser (2) is fixed to the radiator (1) through elastically deformable rubber bushings (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Maeda, Toshinao Aoki, Kazuya Murata, Kenichi Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20100242734
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus which stably provides highly concentrated oxygen to a patient, regardless of an environmental temperature and/or a highly concentrated oxygen gas flow rate. The present invention is an oxygen concentrator characterized in that an oxygen concentration sensor detecting a concentration of the oxygen gas produced by the oxygen concentrator, a temperature sensor measuring an environmental temperature and/or a flow rate sensor are provided, a control increasing/decreasing a supply airflow volume of the compressed air supply device based on a detected oxygen concentration detected value to maintain an oxygen concentration at a predetermined concentration is performed, and a control device is switched based on a value measured by the temperature sensor and/or flow rate sensor of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Teijin Pharma Limited
    Inventors: Akihiro Maeda, Makoto Ando
  • Publication number: 20100209603
    Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing a spectacle lens, which can remove machining traces, is free from a striped pattern, a variation in the degree of lenses, and a sagged shape and can improve the optical properties and quality of the spectacle lens. To this end, an optical surface (2a, 2b) of a spectacle lens (1) is machined. A hard coat film (4) formed of a material having hardness equal to or higher than a lens base material is formed on the machined optical surface (2a, 2b). Thereafter, the surface of the hard coat film (4) is polished, and an antireflection film (5) is formed on the polished hard coat film (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Keigo Hasegawa, Akihiro Maeda, Yoshifumi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20100175823
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing an electric-wave-transmissible transferring member capable of expressing a metallic luster pattern having a shape outline. A peel layer is formed on a base sheet having peelability and throughout the whole of a surface of the sheet. Next, a water-soluble pattern layer is partially formed thereon. Next, an electric-wave-transmissible metallic luster layer is formed thereon and throughout the whole of the surface thereof. Next, a protective layer is formed thereon and throughout the whole of the surface thereof, or is formed thereon and, partially, in the region where the water-soluble pattern layer is not formed. Next, the workpiece is subjected to a heating treatment and then a water-washing treatment to peel and remove the water-soluble pattern layer, and the electric-wave-transmissible metallic luster layer and the protective layer formed over the layer. Next, an adhesive layer is wholly or partially formed on the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Muko, Susumu Innan, Akihiro Maeda
  • Publication number: 20100050980
    Abstract: An air cleaner unit for an internal combustion engine includes a casing and a filter element disposed in the casing. The casing includes a first case member having a first opening and a first sealing surface on a periphery of the first opening and a second case member having a second opening and a second sealing surface on a periphery of the second opening. The first case member and the second case member are coupled such that the first and second openings are opposed in a substantially horizontal direction of a vehicle. The filter element has a peripheral portion that is interposed between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface. The first case member includes a side wall and a projection that projects from an inner surface of the side wall. The filter element is held in a substantially vertical position in the casing through the projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihisa Sasano, Akihiro Maeda, Akira Nakawatase, Ryuji Kanzaka, Yuji Matsubara, Shingo Kimura, Akira Enomoto, Kazuya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7640966
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger (radiator) or a cooling module having the radiator and a condenser, which has a higher rigidity against vibration in the vertical direction. To the end, the radiator or the cooling module is mounted to a vehicle by mounting brackets, which are fixed to the radiator tanks at their vertical ends. The mounting brackets have mounting pins, with which the radiator or the cooling module is mounted to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Maeda, Yoshihiko Kamiya, Harumi Okai, Noriaki Maeda, Masami Tamura
  • Publication number: 20090305143
    Abstract: This invention relates to a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode including a positive electrode mixture, a negative electrode, a separator, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode mixture includes a positive electrode active material, and the positive electrode active material includes a lithium nickel composite oxide. The non-aqueous electrolyte includes a non-aqueous solvent and a lithium salt dissolved in the non-aqueous solvent. The amount of moisture contained in the positive electrode mixture is greater than 1000 ppm and equal to or less than 6000 ppm. By adjusting the amount of moisture contained in the positive electrode mixture in the above range, it is possible to improve the cycle characteristics of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including the lithium nickel composite oxide as the positive electrode active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuno, Takaharu Morikawa, Akihiro Maeda, Takeshi Yao
  • Publication number: 20090133663
    Abstract: An air cleaner unit for a vehicle includes an air cleaner element and an air cleaner housing to be arranged generally above ring portions of a fan shroud. The air cleaner element is disposed in the air cleaner housing such that a predetermined space is provided between a lower surface of the air cleaner element and an inner surface of a bottom wall of the air cleaner housing. The bottom wall of the air cleaner housing includes at least two arcuate portions to correspond to the ring portions of the fan shroud and a projecting portion between the arcuate portions. The projecting portion projects downwardly and is configured to increase the volume of the predetermined space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Maeda, Shinichi Oda, Atsushi Hirota
  • Patent number: 7527088
    Abstract: An exhaust gas heat exchanger has a tank, laminated exhaust gas tubes where the exhaust gas flows, a cooling water inlet pipe and a cooling water outlet pipe. The cooling water flows into the tank and flows through water passages between adjacent exhaust gas tubes and between an inner wall of the tank and an outermost exhaust gas tube. Ribs are formed on the exhaust gas tubes so as to lead the cooling water after colliding with an inner wall toward an upstream side of the exhaust gas tubes to prevent the cooling water from being stuck. Otherwise, spaces between an inner wall of a casing and the exhaust gas tubes are regulated to keep the flow rate of the cooling water in the casing so that the cooling water is prevented from being boiled locally by slow flow rate of the cooling water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Hayashi, Akihiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 7497287
    Abstract: In a ventilation duct of a cooling system, a level difference is formed between a wall located on a vehicle front side and a wall located on a vehicle rear side because a bottom end of the wall located on the vehicle front side is lower than a bottom end of the wall located on the vehicle rear side. The level difference makes a speed of a traveling wind flowing near an outlet faster than that flowing away from the outlet. Therefore, a pressure of the traveling wind flowing near the outlet decreases. As a result, air flows in the ventilation duct to be drawn to the neighborhood of the low-pressure outlet, and discharged out. Because cooling air including the traveling wind can be increased, heat radiation capacity of a radiator disposed in the ventilation duct is improved, and the cooling capacity of the cooling system can also be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuhei Kunikata, Akihiro Maeda, Toshiki Sugiyama, Jun Hoshi
  • Patent number: 7488557
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lead-acid battery Comprising a positive and a negative electrode, each having a current collector comprising an expanded grid, characterized in that at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode contains an organic binder in an active material layer at an edge portion thereof. This makes it possible to suppress an internal short circuit resulting from the separation or abnormal growth of an active material due to repeated charge/discharge, thereby remarkably prolonging the cycle life of a lead-acid battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Maeda, Naoto Hoshihara, Junji Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20080314357
    Abstract: An air cleaner unit includes a casing and a filter element disposed in the casing for filtering air to be introduced into an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The casing includes a first case member and a second case member that are coupled to each other such that the filter element is housed in an element housing portion of the casing. The first case member has a hinge receiving portion, and the second case member has a hinge inserting portion. The hinge receiving portion and the hinge inserting portion are disposed under the element housing portion. The hinge receiving portion includes an engagement opening in which the hinge inserting portion is received such that the hinge receiving portion and the hinge inserting portion are connected in a hinge manner. The hinge receiving portion further includes a hinge receiving surface that extends from a vicinity of the engagement opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihisa Sasano, Akihiro Maeda, Akira Nakawatase, Ryuji Kanzaka, Yuji Matsubara, Shingo Kimura, Akira Enomoto, Kazuya Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20080289796
    Abstract: A cooling module includes a heat exchanger, a blower, a fan shroud and an air cleaner unit for filtering air to be introduced into an engine of a vehicle. The fan shroud holds the blower on a downstream side of the heat exchanger with respect to a flow of air passing through the heat exchanger and has an air introducing portion defining an air passage from the heat exchanger to the blower. A front end of the air cleaner unit is offset from the heat exchanger with respect to a horizontal direction. A side wall of the air cleaner unit partly forms the air introducing portion. A clearance is provided between the side wall and the heat exchanger such that air upstream of the heat exchanger is conducted toward a position downstream of the heat exchanger through the clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Boshoku Corporation
    Inventors: Norihisa Sasano, Akihiro Maeda, Akira Nakawatase, Ryuji Kanzaka, Yuji Matsubara, Shingo Kimura, Akira Enomoto, Kazuya Tanaka, Kouji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7290630
    Abstract: In a front end structure of a vehicle, a heat exchanger is arranged at a position lower than a bumper reinforcement member, so a position of an engine hood is lowered. Electric auxiliary devices such as a radar, electronic control units for lights, and an air cleaner are arranged at a position higher than the bumper reinforcement member or at the rear of the bumper reinforcement member. By this arrangement, the electric auxiliary devices are arranged at a position which is less likely to be affected by the bumper reinforcement member in a case of light frontal crush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Maeda, Yuhei Kunikata, Toshiki Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20070246280
    Abstract: A cooling module capable of reducing vibration in a compartment attributable to the discharge pulsation of the compressor is disclosed. The cooling module comprises a radiator (1) mounted to a vehicle for cooling the cooling water by heat exchange between the cooling water and the air, and a condenser (2) for condensing the refrigerant by heat exchange between the refrigerant circulated in the refrigeration cycle and the air. The radiator (1) is fixed to the vehicle, and the condenser (2) is fixed to the radiator (1) through elastically deformable rubber bushings (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Maeda, Toshinao Aoki, Kazuya Murata, Kenichi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7204302
    Abstract: A tube 101 is constituted by a pair of plates 111a, 111b which are fitted with each other in such a manner as to put an inner fin 101b between the plate 111a and the plate 111b. Differences in level 111c are formed on the second plate 111b, which fits inside, which differences in level each protrude inwardly by a distance equal to the thickness of the first plate 111a, whereby the outer wall surface of the tube 101 is made substantially level thereover. A gap which is formed between the outer wall surface of the tube 101 and a core plate, when the tube is passed through the core plate, can be as small as possible whereby the brazing properties can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Shibagaki, Akihiro Maeda