Patents by Inventor Akihito Ono

Akihito Ono 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: 20240316940
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya OKAZAKI, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Akihito ONO, Mikio HIRANO, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Yutao WANG, Tomohiro KANBE
  • Patent number: 12083832
    Abstract: A tire deterioration inferring (estimating) method uses a tire deterioration inferring device placed on the inner surface of a tire. The method has: a deformation velocity measurement step of measuring a tire deformation velocity, which is the deformation velocity of the tire while the tire is rotating, and obtaining time-series changes in the tire deformation velocity; a calculation step of calculating peak values of the tire deformation velocity from the time-series changes in the tire deformation velocity; and an inference step of inferring the degree of the deterioration of the tire by using a first peak value, which is a peak value of the tire deformation velocity before and at the stepping of the tire or at and after the kicking of the tire, the first peak value being in the time-series changes in the tire deformation velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heishiro Fudo, Eiji Shinohara, Shinya Ichise, Hiroyuki Tobari, Akihito Yamamoto, Yuki Ono
  • Patent number: 12017461
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Okazaki, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Kosuke Nukui, Akihito Ono, Mikio Hirano, Suguru Tomoguchi, Yutao Wang, Tomohiro Kanbe
  • Publication number: 20240198686
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber; a first wall; a second wall; and an air communication passage. The first wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid storage chamber. The second wall is positioned upward relative to the first wall. The air communication passage has a first communication hole in communication with the liquid storage chamber and a communication opening open to an atmosphere. The air communication passage includes: an air chamber defined by the first wall and the second wall and in communication with the liquid storage chamber through the first communication hole; a second communication hole formed in the second wall; and a labyrinth path. The labyrinth path is positioned upward relative to the air chamber, and has one end in communication with the second communication hole and another end in communication with the communication opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Fumio NAKAZAWA, Naoya OKAZAKI, Akihito ONO, Kosuke NUKUI, Hiroshi TAIRA, Toyonori SASAKI
  • Patent number: 12005714
    Abstract: A system includes: a housing; a first tank; a second tank; a first reservoir configured to be connected to the first tank; a second reservoir configured to be connected to the second tank; and a liquid discharge head that ejects the liquid supplied from the first tank and the second tank. The housing includes: a front wall; a rear wall facing the front wall; and a housing side contact, the first reservoir and the second reservoir includes: a liquid flow hole; a first outer wall; and a second outer wall facing the first outer wall, the first tank includes a first flow pipe, and the second tank includes a second flow pipe. The system further includes a circuit board that is disposed on the second outer wall and has a reservoir side contact that contacts the housing side contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Ono, Akinari Ishibe, Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 11897267
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber; a first wall; a second wall; and an air communication passage. The first wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid storage chamber. The second wall is positioned upward relative to the first wall. The air communication passage has a first communication hole in communication with the liquid storage chamber and a communication opening open to an atmosphere. The air communication passage includes: an air chamber defined by the first wall and the second wall and in communication with the liquid storage chamber through the first communication hole; a second communication hole formed in the second wall; and a labyrinth path. The labyrinth path is positioned upward relative to the air chamber, and has one end in communication with the second communication hole and another end in communication with the communication opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Fumio Nakazawa, Naoya Okazaki, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroshi Taira, Toyonori Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11890876
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge attachment section includes: a cartridge body having a liquid storage chamber, and a liquid supply portion configured to supply the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to an outside. The liquid supply portion includes: a front end face facing frontward, an outer peripheral surface extending rearward from the front end face, and at least one guide provided at the outer peripheral surface. Each of the at least one guide is guided by corresponding at least one projection of the cartridge attachment section during attachment of a liquid supply tube of the cartridge attachment section to the liquid supply portion at a time of attachment of the liquid cartridge to the cartridge attachment section. Each of the at least one guide includes: a first guide portion, and a second guide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Ono, Akinari Ishibe
  • Patent number: 11890875
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge-attachment section in an insertion direction includes a casing, and a lever supported by the casing. The lever is pivotable about a pivot axis between a first position and a second position. The lever includes a light-blocking portion configured to block or attenuate light traveling in a widthwise direction crossing the insertion direction and a gravitational direction, and a force-receiving portion positioned closer to a front wall of the casing than the light-blocking portion is to the front wall in the insertion direction. The light-blocking portion is positioned lower at the second position than at the first position. The pivot axis is positioned frontward of the light-blocking portion and rearward of the force-receiving portion in the insertion direction. The lever pivots from the second position to the first position upon application of an external force to the force-receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Akihito Ono, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Fumio Nakazawa, Kosuke Nukui
  • Patent number: 11830755
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate and a base plate. The ceramic dielectric substrate includes a first major surface, a second major surface, a groove part, and a plurality of cooling gas holes. The groove part includes first and second circumferential grooves, and first and second radial-direction grooves. The plurality of cooling gas holes includes first and second holes. The first hole overlaps the first radial-direction groove. The second hole overlaps the second radial-direction groove. The base plate includes a gas inlet path that supplies the cooling gas to the first and second holes. The first circumferential groove includes first and second end portions. The second circumferential groove includes third and fourth end portions. The third end portion and the fourth end portion do not overlap the first end portion in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihito Ono, Jumpei Uefuji, Tomoki Umetsu, Tatsuya Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20230317493
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate, a base plate, and a heater unit. The heater unit includes a first power feeding portion, a second power feeding portion, and a heater line. The heater line includes a plurality of extension portions arranged in a second direction. The plurality of extension portions includes a first extension portion and a second extension portion. A third distance between the first extension portion and a first virtual tangent and a fourth distance between the second extension portion and a second virtual tangent each are not more than a first distance between the first power feeding portion and the second power feeding portion. The third distance and the fourth distance each are not more than a second distance between the plurality of extension portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Akihito ONO, Jumpei UEFUJI, Tatsuya HAYAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20230311258
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate and a base plate. The base plate includes a communicating path configured to allow a coolant to pass. The communicating path includes a first flow path part having a pair of side surfaces along a first direction. The first direction is along a flow of the coolant. When viewed along a stacking direction, one side surface of the pair of side surfaces includes a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions. The plurality of convex portions is convex in a second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The second direction is from the other side surface toward the one side surface of the pair of side surfaces. The plurality of concave portions is convex in an opposite direction of the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Akihito ONO, Masafumi IKEGUCHI, Tomoki UMETSU, Jumpei UEFUJI
  • Publication number: 20230317494
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate, a base plate, and a heater unit. The heater unit includes first and second heater elements. The first heater element includes a first zone. The first heater element includes first and second protruding portions. The first zone includes a first facing region in which the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion are disposed so as to face and be adjacent to each other. The second heater element includes a second zone. The second zone includes a central region and an outer peripheral region. The central region is positioned at a center of the second zone. The outer peripheral region is positioned outside the central region. The first facing region is located at a position where the first facing region overlaps the central region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Akihito ONO, Jumpei UEFUJI
  • Publication number: 20230317495
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a base plate, a first heater element, and a plurality of first power feeding terminals. The base plate includes a communicating path having a spiral shape. The first heater element includes a plurality of first zones. The plurality of first power feeding terminals feeds power to the plurality of first zones. Each of the plurality of first zones includes a first heater line and a pair of first power feeding portions feeding power to the first heater line. The pair of first power feeding portions is electrically connected to the plurality of first power feeding terminals. The plurality of first power feeding terminals includes a first and a second annular portion. The communicating path includes a first circumferential portion surrounding the second annular portion between the first annular portion and the second annular portion when viewed along a stacking direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Akihito ONO, Tetsuro ITOYAMA, Tomoki UMETSU, Jumpei UEFUJI
  • Patent number: 11776836
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate; a base plate; and a heater unit which heats the ceramic dielectric substrate. The heater unit includes a first heater element. The first heater element has a plurality of sub-zones. The sub-zones include a first sub-zone. The first sub-zone includes a sub-heater line generating heat by allowing a current to flow, a first sub-power feeding portion feeding a power to the sub-heater line, and a second sub-power feeding portion feeding a power to the sub-heater line. The first sub-zone has a central region located centrally in the first sub-zone and an outer peripheral region located outside the central region when viewed along a Z-direction perpendicular to the first major surface. At least one of the first sub-power feeding portion and the second sub-power feeding portion is provided in the central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihito Ono, Jumpei Uefuji
  • Publication number: 20230286278
    Abstract: A system includes: a housing; a first tank; a second tank; a first reservoir configured to be connected to the first tank; a second reservoir configured to be connected to the second tank; and a liquid discharge head that ejects the liquid supplied from the first tank and the second tank. The housing includes: a front wall; a rear wall facing the front wall; and a housing side contact, the first reservoir and the second reservoir includes: a liquid flow hole; a first outer wall; and a second outer wall facing the first outer wall, the first tank includes a first flow pipe, and the second tank includes a second flow pipe. The system further includes a circuit board that is disposed on the second outer wall and has a reservoir side contact that contacts the housing side contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito ONO, Akinari ISHIBE, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Takahiro MIYAO, Kosuke NUKUI
  • Patent number: 11756820
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck includes a ceramic dielectric substrate; a base plate; and a heater unit which heats the ceramic dielectric substrate. The heater unit includes first and second heater elements. The second heater element has a plurality of main zones separated from each other in a radial direction. The first heater element has a plurality of sub-zones separated from each other. A number of the sub-zones is larger than a number of the main zones. The main zones include a first main zone. The first main zone has a main heater line and a first main power feeding portion. The sub-zones include a first sub-zone overlapping the first main zone. The first sub-zone has a central region and an outer peripheral region. The first main power feeding portion is provided at a position where the first main power feeding portion overlaps the central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihito Ono, Jumpei Uefuji
  • Publication number: 20230271423
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya OKAZAKI, Tetsuro KOBAYASHI, Hiroaki TAKAHASHI, Kosuke NUKUI, Akihito ONO, Mikio HIRANO, Suguru TOMOGUCHI, Yutao WANG, Tomohiro KANBE
  • Publication number: 20230234368
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge configured to be inserted into a cartridge attachment section includes: a cartridge body having a liquid storage chamber, and a liquid supply portion configured to supply the liquid stored in the liquid storage chamber to an outside. The liquid supply portion includes: a front end face facing frontward, an outer peripheral surface extending rearward from the front end face, and at least one guide provided at the outer peripheral surface. Each of the at least one guide is guided by corresponding at least one projection of the cartridge attachment section during attachment of a liquid supply tube of the cartridge attachment section to the liquid supply portion at a time of attachment of the liquid cartridge to the cartridge attachment section. Each of the at least one guide includes: a first guide portion, and a second guide portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Ono, Akinari Ishibe
  • Patent number: 11685162
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first surface, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, and a third surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, with a liquid outlet through the first surface. A circuit board is mounted on the third surface. A locking mechanism includes a locking surface that extends above the third surface, and a liquid detection mechanism includes a light access portion. The light access portion is disposed between the circuit board and the locking surface, and the circuit board is disposed between the first surface and the light access portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoya Okazaki, Tetsuro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Kosuke Nukui, Akihito Ono, Mikio Hirano, Suguru Tomoguchi, Yutao Wang, Tomohiro Kanbe
  • Patent number: 11639059
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge casing having a liquid storage chamber; a first wall; a second wall; and an air communication passage. The first wall is positioned upward relative to the liquid storage chamber. The second wall is positioned upward relative to the first wall. The air communication passage has a first communication hole in communication with the liquid storage chamber and a communication opening open to an atmosphere. The air communication passage includes: an air chamber defined by the first wall and the second wall and in communication with the liquid storage chamber through the first communication hole; a second communication hole formed in the second wall; and a labyrinth path. The labyrinth path is positioned upward relative to the air chamber, and has one end in communication with the second communication hole and another end in communication with the communication opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kobayashi, Hiroaki Takahashi, Takahiro Miyao, Fumio Nakazawa, Naoya Okazaki, Akihito Ono, Kosuke Nukui, Hiroshi Taira, Toyonori Sasaki