Patents by Inventor Akihiro Sato

Akihiro Sato 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: 8988333
    Abstract: A look-up table unit converts input video signal data of N bits into (M+F+D) bit data by performing inverse gamma correction and linear interpolation. An error diffusion unit converts the (M+F+D) bit data into (M+F) bit data by error diffusion processing. A frame rate control unit converts the (M+F) bit data into M bit data by frame rate control. A sub-frame data conversion unit, by using a gradation driving table and the M bit data, generates sub-frame data in which all sub-frames include a step-bit pulse respectively, and in which the number of sub-frames to be in a drive state every time the drive gradation increases by one, is increased one by one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20150072829
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle including an engine, an electric motor, and a clutch configured to achieve a mechanically directly-coupled state of a power transmission path between the engine/the electric motor and drive wheels, the control device causing the clutch to be slip-engaged or released when the engine is started during motor running in which only the electric motor is used as a drive force source for running with the clutch engaged, the control device being configured such that when the clutch is engaged during the motor running, an engagement pressure is made lower than an engagement pressure when the clutch is engaged during engine running in which at least the engine is used as a drive force source for running, and in the case of running with the clutch engaged, the engagement pressure of the clutch is constantly adjusted based on output torque of the electric motor during the motor running, while the engagement pressure of the clutch is not adjusted during the engine running.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yosuke Michikoshi, Shingo Eto, Yuji Inoue, Yukihiko Ideshio, Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8974634
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel production method of a cellulose nanofiber and a novel cellulose nanofiber. The method for producing a cellulose nanofiber comprises defibrating pulp by a single- or multi-screw kneader in the presence of water, the single or multi-screw kneader having a screw circumferential speed of 45 m/min. Or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignees: Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., Oji Holdings Corporation, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Kyoto University
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yano, Tadafumi Hashimoto, Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8969441
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel cationized microfibrillated plant fiber and a method for manufacturing the same. A cationic microfibrillated plant fiber that is cationically modified with a quaternary-ammonium-group-containing compound, and that has an average diameter of 4 to 200 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignees: Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., Oji Holdings Corporation, Kyoto University
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yano, Tadafumi Hashimoto, Akihiro Sato, Antonio Norio Nakagaito, Kazuo Kitagawa, Takeshi Semba, Akihiro Ito
  • Publication number: 20150039167
    Abstract: A control device of a hybrid vehicle including an electric motor and an engine as drive force sources, the hybrid vehicle being configured to execute engine running using the engine as the drive force source for running and motor running using the electric motor as the drive force source for running with the engine stopped, the control device having a predefined running performance oriented running mode such as a sport running mode and a predefined large drive force running mode with a lower requirement degree of start acceleration performance as compared to the running performance oriented running mode, in the predefined running performance oriented running mode, the motor running being inhibited, the engine running being performed in an operation range in which the motor running is normally performed, and the engine being retained in an operating state at the time of vehicle stop, and in the predefined large drive force running mode, the motor running being inhibited, the engine running being performed in t
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Terufumi Miyazaki, Yuji Inoue, Shingo Eto, Yousuke Michikoshi, Akihiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20140379189
    Abstract: A control device of a vehicle comprises: an electric motor connected to a drive force transmission path through a first connecting/disconnecting device connecting/interrupting power transmission; and an engine connected to the electric motor through a second connecting/disconnecting device connecting/interrupting power transmission, the control device of a vehicle disconnecting the first connecting/disconnecting device or the second connecting/disconnecting device during running to perform coasting with the engine separated, when performing coasting, a determination whether a vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined determination vehicle speed implemented, the engine separated by disconnecting the second connecting/disconnecting device with the first connecting/disconnecting device kept connected at a low vehicle speed where the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the predetermined determination vehicle speed, and the engine separated by disconnecting the first connecting/disconnecting devi
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Eto, Yuji Inoue, Yukihiko Ideshio, Yousuke Michikoshi, Terufumi Miyazaki, Akihiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20140371965
    Abstract: To provide a driving system for a vehicle that can fulfill both drivability and regeneration efficiency. The driving system for the vehicle includes: an engine; a motor generator connected to a wheel; a clutch that changes transmission state between a disengagement state in which the engine is disengaged from the motor generator and an engagement state in which the engine is at least slightly engaged with the motor generator; and a one-way clutch capable of transmitting only power in a forward rotational direction from the engine to the motor generator, in which, when the power of the engine is transmitted to the motor generator, a first transmission method for transmitting the power through the one-way clutch with the clutch left disengaged and a second transmission method for transmitting the power through the clutch with the clutch engaged are changed in accordance with a vehicle state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Terufumi Miyazaki, Yuji Inoue, Shingo Eto, Yousuke Michikoshi, Akihiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20140336893
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: an engine and a first motor generator from both of which a driving force for traveling is output to drive wheels; and an electricity storage device that storages electric power for driving the first motor generator. When a vehicle weight is in a reference state at a time of deceleration braking, the first motor generator is mainly caused, out of the first motor generator and the engine, to generate a braking force, and when the vehicle weight is greater than that in the reference state, the engine is mainly caused, out of the first motor generator and the engine, to generate the braking force. Thus, a sufficient braking force can be obtained while an input limit of the electricity storage device is prevented from being reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Terufumi Miyazaki, Yuji Inoue, Shingo Eto, Yousuke Michikoshi, Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8877122
    Abstract: A Ni-based single crystal superalloy which has the following composition: Co: 0.0 wt % or more to 15.0 wt % or less, Cr: 4.1 to 8.0 wt %, Mo: 2.1 to 4.5 wt %, W: 0.0 to 3.9 wt %, Ta: 4.0 to 10.0 wt %, Al: 4.5 to 6.5 wt %, Ti: 0.0 to 1.0 wt %, Hf: 0.00 to 0.5 wt %, Nb: 0.0 to 3.0 wt %, Re: 8.1 to 9.9 wt % and Ru: 0.5 to 6.5 wt % with the remainder including Ni and unavoidable impurities. As a result, the Ni-based single crystal superalloy which includes more than 8 wt % of Re in the composition ratio and has excellent specific creep strength and the turbine blade incorporating the Ni-based single crystal superalloy may be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Aoki, Nobuhito Sekine, Akihiro Sato, Kazuhito Miyata, Kazuyoshi Chikugo
  • Patent number: 8877841
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a molding material comprising an unsaturated polyester resin and microfibrillated plant fibers, the microfibrillated plant fibers comprising cellulose and hemicellulose, and having a specific surface area of 5 to 20 m2/g; a method of producing the molding material; a molded article obtained by curing the molding material; and a method of producing an unsaturated polyester resin molded article comprising microfibrillated plant fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignees: Kyoto University, Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd., DIC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yano, Akihiro Sato, Antonio Norio Nakagaito, Fumiaki Nakatsubo
  • Patent number: 8868277
    Abstract: A hybrid drive system configured to selectively establish one of a first drive mode in which a first motor/generator MG1 is operated with a drive force of an engine, to generate an electric energy and in which a vehicle drive force is generated primarily by a second motor/generator MG2, and a second drive mode in which the vehicle drive force is generated by the engine, and at least one of the first motor/generator MG1 and second motor/generator MG2 is operated to generate an assisting vehicle drive force, as needed, and further configured such that an amount of a working oil to be supplied to the first motor/generator MG1 is larger in the first drive mode than in the second drive mode, permitting sufficient cooling of the electric motor depending upon a selected one of the vehicle drive modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akiko Nishimine, Koji Hayashi, Takeshi Kanayama, Tetsuo Hori, Tomoyuki Maruyama, Takeshi Miyagawa, Ryoki Ii, Tomoaki Furukawa, Norihiro Yamamura, Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8851886
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate processing apparatus includes a reaction tube; a heating device configured to heat the reaction tube; and a manifold installed outward as compared with the heating device and made of a non-metallic material. A first thickness of the manifold defined in a direction perpendicular to a center axis of the reaction tube is greater than a second thickness of the manifold defined at a position adjacent to the reaction tube in a direction parallel to the center axis of the reaction tube. The manifold includes a protrusion part of which at least a portion protrudes inward more than an inner wall of the reaction tube, and a gas supply unit disposed at at least the protrusion part for supplying gas to an inside of the reaction tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinya Morita, Akihiro Sato, Akinori Tanaka, Shigeo Nakada, Takayuki Nakada, Shuhei Saido, Tomoyuki Matsuda
  • Publication number: 20140288748
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control device for a vehicle including an engine and a motor generator both for supplying a travel driving force to a driving wheel. The control device causes the engine to stop while the vehicle is traveling on a descending slope under constant vehicle speed control where the vehicle is controlled to travel at a predetermined vehicle speed. That reduces a load on a brake device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Terufumi Miyazaki, Yuji Inoue, Shingo Eto, Yousuke Michikoshi, Akihiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20140277890
    Abstract: Provided is a control device for a hybrid vehicle capable of attaining an assist torque generated by a clutch mechanism at an appropriate timing, upon starting the engine. Since an electronic control device outputs an engagement command for engaging a clutch (clutch mechanism) at a time preceding an (ignition) start command time for igniting an engine by a preceding-sending time, the clutch becomes engaged when the engine speed starts to increase, and the assist torque generated by the clutch mechanism can thus be obtained at an appropriate timing. Because the engine speed that was once increased upon starting the engine is not decreased, the energy that was consumed for starting the engine can be effectively used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Susumu Kojima, Naoki Nakanishi, Akihiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20140267462
    Abstract: A first sample holding unit (22) samples and holds subframe data on a column data line (D) inputted via a first switching unit (21) when a pixel (20) is selected by a row selection signal applied via a row selection line (W). After the subframe data is held by the first sample holding units (22) of all pixels, a second sample holding unit (24) samples and holds the subframe data inputted through a second switching unit (23) activated by a common signal to apply the subframe data to a pixel electrode (12) of a liquid crystal element (LC). Consequently, a voltage selection unit between the second sample holding unit (24) and the pixel electrode (12) becomes unnecessary as well as subframe data can be transferred without a suspension period of the subframe data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: JVC KENWOOD Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8830942
    Abstract: Mobile equipment includes a second control unit connected to a plurality of first control units performing control of an application function. The second control unit includes a storage unit, a setting unit, a transmitting unit, and a selecting unit. The storage unit stores selection information and connecting-destination specifying information associating each other. The setting unit sets the connecting-destination specifying information for a connecting-destination connected with the mobile equipment via a connection between the mobile equipment and a communication network. The transmitting unit transmits the connecting-destination specifying information set by the setting unit to the first control unit having the application being an establishment requestor of the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masaya Oda, Akihiro Sato, Daisuke Kobayashi, Shingo Hironaka, Hidekazu Makino, Yuichiro Oishi
  • Patent number: 8801568
    Abstract: Controlling a hybrid vehicle includes: reducing a rotation speed of a motor generator before a locking apparatus that locks the motor generator is switched from a disengaged condition to an engaged condition; starting to switch the locking apparatus to the engaged condition when the rotation speed decreases to a predetermined operation permission rotation speed; controlling the locking apparatus such that from the start of the switch to the engaged condition onward, the rotation speed decreases from the operation permission rotation speed to an engagement rotation speed with the motor generator in the engaged condition; and controlling the locking apparatus such that a decrease rate of the rotation speed when switching from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition in a low torque operation mode is higher than the decrease rate of the rotation speed when switching from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition in a high torque operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Hori, Hiroatsu Endo, Isao Sato, Hiroki Kuwamoto, Akihiro Sato, Ryo Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140216842
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor serving as a driving source for running the vehicle, and a high-power assembled battery and a high-capacity assembled battery each capable of supplying an electric power to the motor and placed in a luggage space. The high-power assembled battery is capable of charge and discharge with a current relatively larger than that in the high-capacity assembled battery. The high-capacity assembled battery has an energy capacity relatively larger than that of the high-power assembled battery and has a higher dependence of battery characteristic on temperature than that of the high-power assembled battery. The high-capacity assembled battery is placed over the high-power assembled battery in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Kenji Kimura, Takurou Nakayama, Nobuyoshi Fujiwara, Akihiro Sato, Hirotaka Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8798837
    Abstract: A vehicle hybrid drive device includes: a first rotating machine coupled to an engine; a connection/disconnection device capable of connecting/disconnecting the engine and the first rotating machine to/from wheels; and a second rotating machine disposed in a manner enabling transmission of drive power to the wheels, the vehicle hybrid drive device enabling a vehicle to run in two running modes of an EV running mode enabling the vehicle to run with the second rotating machine used as a drive power source while the connection/disconnection device is disconnected, and a parallel HEV running mode enabling the vehicle to run with the engine and at least one of the first and second rotating machines as the drive power sources while the connection/disconnection device is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Kanayama, Koji Hayashi, Tetsuo Hori, Tomoyuki Maruyama, Akiko Nishimine, Takeshi Miyagawa, Tomoaki Furukawa, Norihiro Yamamura, Akihiro Sato, Ryoki Il
  • Publication number: 20140210209
    Abstract: A vehicle has a motor serving as a driving source for running the vehicle, a high-power assembled battery and a high-capacity assembled battery each capable of supplying an electric power to the motor, and a temperature adjusting mechanism adjusting the temperature of each of the high-power assembled battery and the high-capacity assembled battery. The temperature adjusting mechanism supplies a heat exchange medium for use in the temperature adjustment of the high-power assembled battery and the high-capacity assembled battery to each of the assembled batteries. The high-power assembled battery is capable of charge and discharge with a current relatively larger than that in the high-capacity assembled battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Takurou Nakayama, Akihiro Sato, Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Hirotaka Watanabe, Kenji Kimura, Nobuyoshi Fujiwara