Patents by Inventor Akiko Ito
Akiko Ito 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).
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Patent number: 7801457Abstract: A fixing device includes an excitation coil, a heat-generating layer, a magnetic shunt layer, and a degaussing member. The excitation coil generates a magnetic flux. The heat-generating layer generates heat using the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil. The magnetic shunt layer transmits heat generated by the heat-generating layer. The degaussing member sandwiches the magnetic shunt layer together with the excitation coil, and selectively performs degaussing by generating a repelling magnetic flux for canceling the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil so as to activate a self-temperature-control function. The degaussing member selectively refrains from degaussing so as to deactivate the self-temperature-control function.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito, Tadashi Ogawa, Satoshi Ueno, Kenji Ishii
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Patent number: 7796933Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device to fix a toner image on a recording medium by applying heat. Such a fixing device includes at least a magnetic flux generator, a heat generating roller, a magnetic shunt layer, and a protective layer. The magnetic flux generator is configured to generate magnetic flux. The heat generating roller including a heat generating layer is configured to generate heat by the magnetic flux. The magnetic shunt layer may be formed independently of the heat generating layer. The protective layer is provided on an inner surface of the magnetic shunt layer and configured to cover a crack formed in the magnetic shunt layer during fabrication of the magnetic shunt layer. An image is fixed onto the recording medium by the heat from the heat generating roller. Alternatively, the magnetic shunt layer may be integrally provided with the heat generating layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Satoshi Ueno, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Akiko Ito, Hiroshi Seo
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Patent number: 7783240Abstract: A fixing device includes a magnetic flux generator, a rotating heat generation member, a magnetic flux adjuster, and a driver. The magnetic flux generator generates a magnetic flux. The rotating heat generation member rotates and applies heat to a recording medium bearing an image, and includes a heat-generating layer to generate heat using the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux adjuster is provided outside the rotating heat generation member, and decreases the magnetic flux applied to the heat-generating layer at least in a desired area in an axial direction of the rotating heat generation member. The driver changes the desired area by driving the magnetic flux adjuster in a direction of rotation of the rotating heat generation member.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2008Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Akiko Ito, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Satoshi Ueno, Hiroshi Seo
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Patent number: 7778581Abstract: A fixing unit includes: a shaft; a heatable rotating member, mounted for rotation on the shaft, for fixing an image on a recording medium, the heatable rotating member having a heat generating layer heatable via a magnetic flux; a magnetic flux generator configured to generate the magnetic flux, the magnetic flux generator being provided proximal to the heatable rotating member; and a supporting frame having a shaft supporter configured to support an end of the shaft on which the heatable rotating member is mounted, the shaft supporter being positioned outside of an end portion of the magnetic flux generator.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2007Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito, Tadashi Ogawa
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Publication number: 20090141221Abstract: The present invention provides a transflective display device capable of extending a color reproduction range and reducing a difference in white balance between transmissive display and reflective display. The display device of the present invention is a transflective display device including four or more filters having different colors in a pixel, each of the four or more filters having different colors including: a transmissive region for displaying an image by transmitting light from a backlight; and a reflective region for displaying an image by reflecting surrounding light, wherein at least two of the four or more filters having different colors are different in a proportion of an area of the reflective region, and the proportion of the area is represented by the following formula (1): Proportion of area of reflective region=Area of reflective region/Effective area of filter??(1).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2007Publication date: June 4, 2009Inventors: Tokio Taguchi, Akiko Ito, Shun Ueki, Kozo Nakamura
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Patent number: 7486924Abstract: A fixing roller and method of manufacturing the same. The fixing roller includes a fixing sleeve configured to fuse and fix a toner image on a recording medium and a fixing assist roller configured to be inserted into the fixing sleeve. The fixing sleeve includes a first heating layer having a Curie point. The first heating layer is configured to be heated with a magnetic flux. The fixing assist roller includes an elastic insulating layer and a first low-resistivity layer. The elastic insulating layer is formed on an outer circumference of the fixing assist roller. The first low-resistivity layer is formed under the elastic insulating layer and has a volume resistivity not greater than 5.0×10?8 ?m. Convexities and concavities are alternately formed on an outer surface of the elastic insulating layer along a circumferential direction thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2007Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Ricoh Company Ltd.Inventor: Akiko Ito
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Publication number: 20090015770Abstract: The present invention provides a transflective display device capable of reducing a difference in white balance between transmissive display and reflective display. The display device of the present invention is a transflective display device including three or more filters having different colors in a pixel, each of the three or more filters having different colors, including: a transmissive region for displaying an image by transmitting light from a backlight; and a reflective region for displaying an image by reflecting surrounding light, wherein, in the reflective region of at least one of a plurality of filters having different colors used for displaying white in reflective display, a light-reducing film which reduces an amount of at least light having a peak wavelength of a visible light transmission spectrum of the at least one of a plurality of filters is arranged, and the visible light transmission spectrum is measured using a standard light source D65.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2006Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Akiko Ito, Kozo Nakamura, Shun Ueki, Tokio Taguchi
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Publication number: 20080232873Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device to fix a toner image on a recording medium by applying heat. Such a fixing device includes at least a magnetic flux generator, a heat generating roller, a magnetic shunt layer, and a protective layer. The magnetic flux generator is configured to generate magnetic flux. The heat generating roller including a heat generating layer is configured to generate heat by the magnetic flux. The magnetic shunt layer may be formed independently of the heat generating layer. The protective layer is provided on an inner surface of the magnetic shunt layer and configured to cover a crack formed in the magnetic shunt layer during fabrication of the magnetic shunt layer. An image is fixed onto the recording medium by the heat from the heat generating roller. Alternatively, the magnetic shunt layer may be integrally provided with the heat generating layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Inventors: Satoshi Ueno, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Akiko Ito, Hiroshi Seo
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Publication number: 20080226326Abstract: A fixing device includes an excitation coil, a heat-generating layer, a magnetic shunt layer, and a degaussing member. The excitation coil generates a magnetic flux. The heat-generating layer generates heat using the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil. The magnetic shunt layer transmits heat generated by the heat-generating layer. The degaussing member sandwiches the magnetic shunt layer together with the excitation coil, and selectively performs degaussing by generating a repelling magnetic flux for canceling the magnetic flux generated by the excitation coil so as to activate a self-temperature-control function. The degaussing member selectively refrains from degaussing so as to deactivate the self-temperature-control function.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito, Tadashi Ogawa, Satoshi Ueno, Kenji Ishii
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Publication number: 20080219721Abstract: A fixing device includes a magnetic flux generator, a rotating heat generation member, a magnetic flux adjuster, and a driver. The magnetic flux generator generates a magnetic flux. The rotating heat generation member rotates and applies heat to a recording medium bearing an image, and includes a heat-generating layer to generate heat using the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator. The magnetic flux adjuster is provided outside the rotating heat generation member, and decreases the magnetic flux applied to the heat-generating layer at least in a desired area in an axial direction of the rotating heat generation member. The driver changes the desired area by driving the magnetic flux adjuster in a direction of rotation of the rotating heat generation member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2008Publication date: September 11, 2008Inventors: Akiko Ito, Kenji Ishii, Tadashi Ogawa, Satoshi Ueno, Hiroshi Seo
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Publication number: 20080025772Abstract: A fixing unit includes: a shaft; a heatable rotating member, mounted for rotation on the shaft, for fixing an image on a recording medium, the heatable rotating member having a heat generating layer heatable via a magnetic flux; a magnetic flux generator configured to generate the magnetic flux, the magnetic flux generator being provided proximal to the heatable rotating member; and a supporting frame having a shaft supporter configured to support an end of the shaft on which the heatable rotating member is mounted, the shaft supporter being positioned outside of an end portion of the magnetic flux generator.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2007Publication date: January 31, 2008Inventors: Hiroshi SEO, Akiko ITO, Tadashi OGAWA
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Publication number: 20080025773Abstract: A fixing unit includes a rotatable fixing member and a rotatable pressure applying member. The rotatable fixing member has a heat generating layer to generate heat when subject to a magnetic flux. The rotatable pressure applying member contacts the rotatable fixing member and applies pressure to the fixing member. The rotatable fixing member and the rotatable pressure applying member form a nip therebetween, to which a recording medium is passed through to fix an image on the recording medium. The rotatable fixing member includes a magnetism regulating layer deformable when subject to pressure from the rotatable pressure applying member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2007Publication date: January 31, 2008Inventors: Akiko Ito, Tadashi Ogawa, Hiroshi Seo
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Publication number: 20080013996Abstract: A fixing roller and method of manufacturing the same. The fixing roller includes a fixing sleeve configured to fuse and fix a toner image on a recording medium and a fixing assist roller configured to be inserted into the fixing sleeve. The fixing sleeve includes a first heating layer having a Curie point. The first heating layer is configured to be heated with a magnetic flux. The fixing assist roller includes an elastic insulating layer and a first low-resistivity layer. The elastic insulating layer is formed on an outer circumference of the fixing assist roller. The first low-resistivity layer is formed under the elastic insulating layer and has a volume resistivity not greater than 5.0×10?8 ?m. Convexities and concavities are alternately formed on an outer surface of the elastic insulating layer along a circumferential direction thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2007Publication date: January 17, 2008Inventor: Akiko Ito
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Publication number: 20070280754Abstract: A fixing device includes a fixing sleeve, a cylindrical fixing roller, and a pressure roller. The fixing sleeve includes a heating layer that generates heat to fuse and fix toner. The fixing roller has a surface covered with the fixing sleeve. The pressure roller presses the fixing roller via the fixing sleeve to form a nip portion. The fixing sleeve is freely rotatable with respect to the fixing roller, and is slid for rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2007Publication date: December 6, 2007Inventors: Tadashi Ogawa, Toshiaki Higaya, Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito
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Publication number: 20070242988Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier to carry a toner image and a fixing device to fix the toner image transferred from the image carrier onto a recording medium by applying at least heat to at least one of the toner image and the recording medium. Such a fixing device includes: a magnetic flux generator to generate a magnetic flux; and a heat generating member disposed at least partially in the magnetic flux. The heat generating member includes a heat generating layer to generate heat via eddy currents therein induced by the magnetic flux, magnitudes of the eddy currents varying according to positions thereof in a width direction of the heat generating layer. Included within the heat generating layer is a magnetic layer having a Curie point in a range, e.g., from about 100 degrees centigrade to about 300 degrees centigrade.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2007Publication date: October 18, 2007Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito, Tadashi Ogawa, Toshiaki Higaya
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Publication number: 20070212089Abstract: A fixer configured to fix an image on an recording medium passing through a fixing nip includes a holder including an elastic layer, a fixing rotator including a heating layer, provided overlying the holder, and a pressurizer configured to pressurize the holder via the fixing rotator to form the fixing nip. A part of the pressurizer, which forms the fixing nip, has a length not less than a length of the heating layer in a width direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2007Publication date: September 13, 2007Inventors: Hiroshi Seo, Akiko Ito, Tadashi Ogawa, Toshiaki Higaya
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Patent number: 7206631Abstract: A sleepiness level detection device detects a heartbeat signal when a time equal to or longer than T1 and equal to or shorter than T2 has elapsed since the start of driving. The heartbeat signal is subjected to FFT processing to obtain a spectrum signal. By use of a peak frequency of the spectrum signal, a driver conscious-state peak frequency is estimated. A consciousness level index band ? is set with respect to the conscious-state peak frequency. A sleepiness level index band ? is set with respect to a frequency, which is calculated by multiplying the conscious-state peak frequency by a predetermined ratio (65 to 90%). A sleepiness level evaluation parameter Sp (=?p/(?p+?p)) for indicating the sleepiness level of the driver is calculated with the use of the strength ?p and ?p of spectrum signals.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2004Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Taiji Kawachi, Tsuyoshi Nakagawa, Akiko Ito, Takeshi Yoshinori
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Patent number: 7169951Abstract: A quianazoline derivative having the formula (1): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which has a chymase inhibitory activity and suppresses the exacerbation of vascular permeability induced by chymase and useful as a medicament, and a pharmaceutical composition containing the same as an essential ingredient.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2005Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Daiichi Asubio Pharma Co., Ltd.Inventors: Harukazu Fukami, Akiko Ito, Seiichi Imajo
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Publication number: 20060025698Abstract: At data updating timing, a two-dimensional coordinate system is shown on a display screen based on a display condition that is separately set; further, a region of a physical condition is shown to indicate a correspondence relationship between a driver's physical condition and points on the two-dimensional coordinate system. A heartbeat rate analyzing process and a blood pressure analyzing process produce, as a result, detection data P(i) including a heartbeat rate HR and a blood pressure BP. The detection data P(i) is shown on the two-dimensional coordinate system with an X-axis of a heartbeat rate HR and a Y-axis of a blood pressure BP. Further, passed detection data P(i?1)˜P(i?k) numbering k are additionally shown so that older data is brighter in a color tone.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2005Publication date: February 2, 2006Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nakagawa, Taiji Kawachi, Akiko Ito
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Publication number: 20050148608Abstract: A quinazoline derivative having formula (1) and a pharmacrutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein the ring A represents an aryl group. which derivative has a chymase inhibitory activity and suppresses the exacerbation of cascular permeability induced by chymase, and a pharmaceutical composition containing the same as an essential ingredient. These compounds are useful for treatment of allergic diseases, rheumatic diseases, and cardiac and circulatory system diseases which are due to the abnormal exacerbation of Angiotensin II production.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2005Publication date: July 7, 2005Applicant: DAIICHI SUNTORY PHARMA CO., LTD.Inventors: Harukazu Fukami, Akiko Ito, Seiichi Imajo