Patents by Inventor Akira Hirai

Akira Hirai 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: 12265307
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel including in the following order an active matrix substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a counter substrate. The active matrix substrate includes in the following order a first electrode and a second electrode including a first linear electrode portion extending in a first direction. The counter substrate includes a third electrode including second linear electrode portions extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and a fourth electrode including an island-shaped electrode portion as a floating electrode. The island-shaped electrode portion is disposed between the second linear electrode portions in a plan view, overlaps an optical aperture of one of two pixels adjacent to each other along the second direction, and does not overlap an optical aperture of the other of the two pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Sharp Display Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Murata, Akira Hirai, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Takashi Satoh, Akira Sakai, Shinji Shimada
  • Patent number: 12226705
    Abstract: A program recorded on a computer-readable recording medium causes a processor of a game apparatus to function as a game controller that executes a video game and generates video information indicative of a video of the video game; and an acquirer that acquires message information that is output from a terminal apparatus configured to display a distributed video that is based on the video information, the message information including a message related to at least one of the distributed video or the video game. The game controller incorporates the message included in the message information into the video of the video game, based on progress status information indicative of a progress status of the video game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Chiba, Junki Hirai, Kai Inoue, Akira Sakai, Tsuguo Shinpo, Toshiaki Kanahara
  • Patent number: 12220672
    Abstract: The present invention is a liquid material vaporizing device that heats a liquid material supplying pipe without providing a heating mechanism, the liquid material vaporizing device including: a gas-liquid mixer unit configured to mix a liquid material and a gas to generate a gas-liquid mixture; a liquid material supplying pipe configured to supply the liquid material to the gas-liquid mixer unit; a vaporizer unit configured to heat the gas-liquid mixture to vaporize the liquid material; and a casing configured to house the gas-liquid mixer unit, the vaporizer unit, and the liquid material supplying pipe, in which a channel configured to guide convection of heat from the vaporizer unit to the liquid material supplying pipe is provided inside the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: HORIBA STEC, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetaka Yada, Soichiro Hirai, Akira Matsuura
  • Patent number: 12220644
    Abstract: A watching system by which a game video is distributed to display devices of a plurality of watching users has: a computer; the computer accepting viewer operations by the plurality of watching users; the computer evaluating a mutual relationship of input of the viewer operation by each of the plurality of watching users; and the computer controlling an operation effect corresponding to the viewer operation so as to change based on evaluation result of the mutual relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Uehara, Shigeru Chiba, Junki Hirai, Kai Inoue, Akira Sakai, Tsuguo Shinpo, Toshiaki Kanahara
  • Patent number: 12214992
    Abstract: Provided is a control apparatus for an elevator that can control the operation of the elevator in a suitable manner when a user is not a pedestrian, without requiring the user for a complicated operation. A control apparatus (7) according to the present invention is provided with: a call registration unit (14) that registers a call for an elevator (1) based on information transmitted by wireless communication from a mobile terminal (10) to communication equipment (8) installed in a region passable by a user (9); and an operation control unit (15) that, when a user type is determined to be a wheeled moving body from a detection result of an acceleration sensor (12) of the mobile terminal (10), controls the operation of the elevator (1) in a manner different from a case where the user type is determined to be a pedestrian.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Fumiya, Takahide Hirai
  • Publication number: 20240420657
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal panel and a control unit configured to drive the liquid crystal panel, wherein the liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate, all of which are provided in a stated order, the first substrate includes a first electrode and a second electrode either stacked via a first insulating layer or disposed opposite each other, the second substrate includes a third electrode, the control unit includes a display mode switching unit, a gamma correction table memory unit, a gamma correction unit, and an image data output unit, the display mode switching unit switches between narrow viewing angle mode and wide viewing angle mode by controlling a voltage applied to the third electrode, the gamma correction table memory unit contains gamma correction tables by each of which a gray level is associated with an application voltage to the first electrode and/or the second electrode, the gamma correction unit acquires di
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2024
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Akira HIRAI, Koji MURATA, Takashi SATOH
  • Patent number: 12078878
    Abstract: A viewing angle control liquid crystal panel includes: a first polarizer having a first absorption axis; a first liquid crystal panel including a first substrate, a first liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate; a second liquid crystal panel including a third substrate, a second liquid crystal layer, and a fourth substrate; and a third liquid crystal panel including a fifth substrate, a third liquid crystal layer, and a sixth substrate. The following equations are satisfied, where ?P1 is an azimuth angle of the first absorption axis and ?1, ?2, ?3, ?4, ?5, and ?6 are azimuth angles of directors of liquid crystal molecules on first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth substrate sides: 0°?|?1??2|?5° 0°?|?P1??1|?5° 0°?|?3??4|?5° 0°?|?5??6|?5°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Sharp Display Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Murata, Akira Hirai, Takashi Satoh, Akira Sakai, Kiyoshi Minoura
  • Publication number: 20240272463
    Abstract: A viewing angle control liquid crystal panel includes: a first polarizer having a first absorption axis; a first liquid crystal panel including a first substrate, a first liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate; a second liquid crystal panel including a third substrate, a second liquid crystal layer, and a fourth substrate; and a third liquid crystal panel including a fifth substrate, a third liquid crystal layer, and a sixth substrate. The following equations are satisfied, where ?P1 is an azimuth angle of the first absorption axis and ?1, ?2, ?3, ?4, ?5, and ?6 are azimuth angles of directors of liquid crystal molecules on first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth substrate sides: 0°?|?1??2|?5° 0°?|?P1??1|?5° 0°?|?3??4|?5° 0°?|?5??6|?5°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventors: Koji Murata, Akira Hirai, Takashi Satoh, Akira Sakai, Kiyoshi Minoura
  • Patent number: 12031620
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sprocket that mitigates the impact of tension fluctuations resulting from load torque changes, suppresses noise and vibration, ensures stable chain behavior, prevents sprocket durability loss and the generation of harmonics during rotation, along with a chain drive system. Tooth roots between adjacent teeth of the sprocket include those with a radial deviation from a root circle of a standard tooth profile, set within a predetermined numerical range corresponding to a tooth pitch. A phase variation pattern is created by changing a root radius in accordance with an angular position. The phase variation pattern has a waveform with an amplitude varied within a range of (1/7)Amax, where Amax represents a maximum amplitude. The chain drive system includes a plurality of sprockets and a chain passed over the sprockets, at least one of them being the above-described sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Shoichiro Shimizu, Yuta Watanabe, Akira Hirai
  • Patent number: 11988910
    Abstract: A viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel sequentially includes a first polarizing plate; a first liquid crystal panel; a second polarizing plate; a second liquid crystal panel; and a third polarizing plate, wherein an azimuthal angle ?P1 of the absorption axis of the first polarizing plate, an azimuthal angle ?1 of a director of liquid crystal molecules near the first substrate and an azimuthal angle ?2 of a director of liquid crystal molecules near the second substrate in the first liquid crystal panel, an azimuthal angle ?P2 of the absorption axis of the second polarizing plate, an azimuthal angle ?3 of a director of liquid crystal molecules near the third substrate and an azimuthal angle ?4 of a director of liquid crystal molecules near the fourth substrate in the second liquid crystal panel, and an azimuthal angle ?P3 of the absorption axis of the third polarizing plate satisfy specific formulas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Sharp Display Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Murata, Junichi Masuda, Shugo Yagi, Akira Hirai, Hiroshi Tsuchiya, Takashi Satoh, Akira Sakai, Kiyoshi Minoura
  • Publication number: 20240160052
    Abstract: A viewing angle-controlling liquid crystal panel sequentially includes a first polarizing plate; a first liquid crystal panel; a second polarizing plate; a second liquid crystal panel; and a third polarizing plate, wherein an azimuthal angle ?P1 of the absorption axis of the first polarizing plate, an azimuthal angle ?1 of a director of liquid crystal molecules near the first substrate and an azimuthal angle ?2 of a director of liquid crystal molecules near the second substrate in the first liquid crystal panel, an azimuthal angle ?P2 of the absorption axis of the second polarizing plate, an azimuthal angle ?3 of a director of liquid crystal molecules near the third substrate and an azimuthal angle ?4 of a director of liquid crystal molecules near the fourth substrate in the second liquid crystal panel, and an azimuthal angle ?P3 of the absorption axis of the third polarizing plate satisfy specific formulas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Applicant: Sharp Display Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Koji MURATA, Junichi MASUDA, Shugo YAGI, Akira HIRAI, Hiroshi TSUCHIYA, Takashi SATOH, Akira SAKAI, Kiyoshi MINOURA
  • Publication number: 20240126671
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores a performance monitoring program for causing a computer to execute processing including: in collection of a plurality of pieces of performance information of a processor when a program that operates in the processor is executed, associating and accumulating an operation characteristic of the program for each of the plurality of pieces of performance information; and selecting, in a case where the number of performance monitoring counters (PMCs) included in the processor is smaller than a total number of the plurality of pieces of performance information, performance information that has the operation characteristic of the program most separated from a current value of the operation characteristic of the program from the plurality of pieces of performance information, and allocating the performance information to the PMC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Akira HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20240111195
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel including in the following order an active matrix substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a counter substrate. The active matrix substrate includes in the following order a first electrode and a second electrode including a first linear electrode portion extending in a first direction. The counter substrate includes a third electrode including second linear electrode portions extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and a fourth electrode including an island-shaped electrode portion as a floating electrode. The island-shaped electrode portion is disposed between the second linear electrode portions in a plan view, overlaps an optical aperture of one of two pixels adjacent to each other along the second direction, and does not overlap an optical aperture of the other of the two pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Koji MURATA, Akira HIRAI, Hiroshi TSUCHIYA, Takashi SATOH, Akira SAKAI, Shinji SHIMADA
  • Publication number: 20240084885
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a sprocket that mitigates the impact of tension fluctuations resulting from load torque changes, suppresses noise and vibration, ensures stable chain behavior, prevents sprocket durability loss and the generation of harmonics during rotation, along with a chain drive system. Tooth roots between adjacent teeth of the sprocket include those with a radial deviation from a root circle of a standard tooth profile, set within a predetermined numerical range corresponding to a tooth pitch. A phase variation pattern is created by changing a root radius in accordance with an angular position. The phase variation pattern has a waveform with an amplitude varied within a range of ( 1/7)Amax, where Amax represents a maximum amplitude. The chain drive system includes a plurality of sprockets and a chain passed over the sprockets, at least one of them being the above-described sprocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Shoichiro Shimizu, Yuta Watanabe, Akira Hirai
  • Patent number: 11841575
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first polarizing plate, a first substrate including a thin-film transistor, a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules, a second substate, a second polarizing plate, and a backlight. The first polarizing plate, the first substate, the liquid crystal layer, the second substrate, the second polarizing plate, and the backlight are arranged in this order. The first substrate has a display area and a frame area placed on an outer edge of the display region. The liquid crystal display device has an ink layer between the frame area of the first substrate and the first polarizing plate. The liquid crystal display device has an internal reflectance ratio y of 0.2 to 0.3. The internal reflectance ratio y is expressed by Formula (1-1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sharp Display Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Hirai, Yuichi Kawahira, Akira Sakai
  • Patent number: 11822408
    Abstract: A recording medium stores a program for causing a computer to execute processing including: acquiring a first process execution time and energy consumption of a first processor core in the execution time when a process executed by the first processor core is switched from a first process to a second process; specifying one or more processes of a first process group to which the first process belongs, from among process groups each of which is a group of processes and calculating an index that indicates the energy consumption per unit time involved in execution of the first process group based on the execution time and the energy consumption acquired for the specified one or more processes; and controlling an operation of a processor core to which the process is allocated according to comparison between the index calculated for the first process group with a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Akira Hirai
  • Publication number: 20230333427
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a first polarizing plate, a first substrate including a thin-film transistor, a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules, a second substrate, a second polarizing plate, and a backlight. The first polarizing plate, the first substrate, the liquid crystal layer, the second substrate, the second polarizing plate, and the backlight are arranged in this order. The first substrate has a display area and a frame area placed on an outer edge of the display region. The liquid crystal display device has an ink layer between the frame area of the first substrate and the first polarizing plate. The liquid crystal display device has an internal reflectance ratio y of 0.2 to 0.3. The internal reflectance ratio y is expressed by Formula (1-1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Akira HIRAI, Yuichi KAWAHIRA, Akira SAKAI
  • Patent number: 11774813
    Abstract: Provided are a liquid crystal display device that can increase light use efficiency and reduce external light reflection, and a method of producing the liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device sequentially includes, from a back surface side toward a viewing surface side: a first substrate; a liquid crystal layer; and a second substrate, the liquid crystal display device including sub-pixels each including an optical opening allowing light to pass through, the first substrate sequentially including, from the back surface side toward the viewing surface side: a supporting substrate; a metal layer surrounding the optical openings; and a resist layer being superimposed with the metal layer and being in contact with the metal layer, an end of the resist layer being superimposed with an end of the metal layer and having a taper angle ? of 40° or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Sharp Display Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Kawahira, Akira Hirai, Akira Sakai
  • Publication number: 20230288977
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores a power control program for causing a computer to execute processing including: monitoring an integrated value of energy consumption consumed by a memory for every predetermined period counted by an interrupt counter; and performing control to increase an operating frequency and a voltage of a memory system at timing of receiving an interrupt that occurs in a case where the interrupt counter overflows on a basis of an upper limit threshold of power consumption per predetermined period set in advance in the interrupt counter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Akira HIRAI
  • Publication number: 20230185139
    Abstract: Provided are a liquid crystal display device that can increase light use efficiency and reduce external light reflection, and a method of producing the liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device sequentially includes, from a back surface side toward a viewing surface side: a first substrate; a liquid crystal layer; and a second substrate, the liquid crystal display device including sub-pixels each including an optical opening allowing light to pass through, the first substrate sequentially including, from the back surface side toward the viewing surface side: a supporting substrate; a metal layer surrounding the optical openings; and a resist layer being superimposed with the metal layer and being in contact with the metal layer, an end of the resist layer being superimposed with an end of the metal layer and having a taper angle ? of 40° or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Yuichi KAWAHIRA, Akira HIRAI, Akira SAKAI