Patents by Inventor Akira Kato

Akira Kato 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).

  • Image heating apparatus having a temperature detecting element mounted in a supporting member to contact a heat-conductive member
    Patent number: 10101695
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus including a supporting member having (a) a hole in which a temperature detecting element is disposed so as to contact a second surface of a heat-conductive member, and (b) an opposing surface that (i) opposes the second surface of the heat-conductive member, and (ii) includes a contact region contacting the second surface of the heat-conductive member, the opposing surface of the supporting member being provided adjacent to the hole of the supporting member in a longitudinal direction of the heater. The contact region of the supporting member presses, toward the heater, a part of the heat-conductive member corresponding to the contact region of the supporting member, and the temperature detecting element presses, toward the heater, a part of the heat-conductive member corresponding to the hole of the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shimura, Hideaki Yonekubo, Hisashi Nakahara, Akira Kato, Noriaki Tanaka, Hideyuki Matsubara, Yuji Fujiwara
  • Reducing levels of nicotinic alkaloids in plants
    Patent number: 10085478
    Abstract: Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Akira Kato
  • REGULATING ALKALOIDS
    Publication number: 20180273967
    Abstract: MPO1 and MPO2 can be regulated for either decreasing or increasing alkaloid levels in plants, in particular in Nicotiana plants. In particular, suppressing or overexpressing one or more of MPO1 and MPO2 may be used to decrease or increase nicotine and nicotinic alkaloid levels in tobacco plants. Suppression or overexpression of one or more of MPO1 and MPO2 may be used in combination with modification of expression of other genes encoding enzymes on the nicotinic alkaloid biosynthetic pathway such as A622, NBB1, PMT, and QPT.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi HASHIMOTO, Akira Kato
  • Reducing levels of nicotinic alkaloids in plants
    Patent number: 10076134
    Abstract: Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Akira Kato
  • IMAGE HEATING DEVICE AND HEATER FOR USE IN IMAGE HEATING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20180253043
    Abstract: In an image heating device having a plurality of heating blocks which are controllable independently in a longitudinal direction of a heater, an increase of the size of the heater can be suppressed, and temperatures of a plurality of heating block can be detected. A heater has a first temperature sensor corresponding to a first heating block, a second temperature sensor corresponding to a second heating block, a first electric conductor electrically coupled to the first temperature sensor, a second electric conductor electrically coupled to the second temperature sensor, and a common electric conductor electrically coupled to the first and second temperature sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shimura, Akira Kato, Atsushi Iwasaki
  • CONTROL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
    Publication number: 20180230918
    Abstract: An operating range boundary for switching a cam for driving an intake valve (drive cam) is changed in a direction of increasing an engine load if a target EGR rate is predicted to increase across the contour line shown in FIG. 3 during an acceleration operation. As can be seen from comparing FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a switching boundary in FIG. 7 is changed in a higher load direction than that in FIG. 6. By changing to such a high load direction, a range in which a large cam is selected is enlarged. That is, switching of the drive cam from the large cam to a small cam is delayed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the combustion state in the cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira KATO
  • REDUCING LEVELS OF NICOTINIC ALKALOIDS IN PLANTS
    Publication number: 20180216127
    Abstract: Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi HASHIMOTO, Akira KATO
  • CONTROL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
    Publication number: 20180209360
    Abstract: An operating range boundary for switching a cam for driving an intake valve (drive cam) is changed in a direction of decreasing an engine load if a target EGR rate is predicted to increase across the contour line shown in FIG. 3. By changing the boundary, the drive cam is switched from a large cam to a small cam before an operating point is transferred from a partitioned range R2 to a partitioned range R1. When the small cam is selected as the drive cam, suction efficiency is frequently lowered as compared to a case where the large cam is selected as the drive cam. Therefore, the drive cam is switched to the small cam before the operating point is transferred from the partitioned range R2 to the partitioned range R1, thereby enabling the suction efficiency to be lowered in many cases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira KATO, Shinichi MITANI, Shintaro HOTTA
  • INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
    Publication number: 20180202374
    Abstract: An electronic control unit is configured to select a first cam as a driving cam of an intake valve in a first operation range where a target value of an EGR rate is set to a specified EGR rate, and is configured to select a second cam as the driving cam in a second operation range smaller in valve duration and lift amount than the first cam. Accordingly, in most of the operation regions, the first cam is selected, and the second cam is selected only in a high-torque and high-speed region. When the second cam is selected in the high-torque and high-speed region, the state where an actual compression ratio is high can be eliminated, and suction efficiency can be decreased. Therefore, decrease in a knocking limit can be suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shintaro HOTTA, Akira KATO, Shinichi MITANI
  • WOOD-TYPE GOLF CLUB HEAD
    Publication number: 20180178088
    Abstract: A wood-type golf club head comprises a face portion having a face for striking a ball. The face comprises a first region having a surface roughness and a second region having a surface roughness larger than that of the first region. The first region is positioned centrally in a toe-heel direction of the face and in an upper side of the face. The second region is positioned adjacently to the first region on a toe side, a heel side and a lower side of the first region and the second region is formed in a U-shape in the front view of the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira KATO
  • Regulating alkaloids
    Patent number: 9994860
    Abstract: MPO1 and MPO2 can be regulated for either decreasing or increasing alkaloid levels in plants, in particular in Nicotiana plants. In particular, suppressing or overexpressing one or more of MPO1 and MPO2 may be used to decrease or increase nicotine and nicotinic alkaloid levels in tobacco plants. Suppression or overexpression of one or more of MPO1 and MPO2 may be used in combination with modification of expression of other genes encoding enzymes on the nicotinic alkaloid biosynthetic pathway such as A622, NBB1, PMT, and QPT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Akira Kato
  • REDUCING LEVELS OF NICOTINIC ALKALOIDS IN PLANTS
    Publication number: 20180135064
    Abstract: Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi HASHIMOTO, Akira Kato
  • REDUCING LEVELS OF NICOTINIC ALKALOIDS IN PLANTS
    Publication number: 20180135065
    Abstract: Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi HASHIMOTO, Akira Kato
  • Exhaust gas purification apparatus for internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 9970343
    Abstract: The production efficiency of ammonia is more raised while avoiding the necessity for a user to supply water for himself/herself in order to produce the ammonia. An exhaust gas purification apparatus comprises a catalyst which purifies an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine by using ammonia; and an ammonia supplier which supplies the ammonia to the catalyst; wherein the ammonia supplier includes an ammonia producer which produces the ammonia from nitrogen and water; a nitrogen supplier which separates the nitrogen from air and which supplies the nitrogen to the ammonia producer; and a water supplier which separates the water from the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine and which supplies the water to the ammonia producer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira Kato
  • Exhaust gas purification apparatus of internal combustion engine
    Patent number: 9951670
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine, includes an oxygen ion conductor which can conduct oxygen ions when a voltage is applied to the conductor and a NOx absorption/discharge device. The NOx absorption/discharge device is formed by a first electrode provided on a first surface of the oxygen ion conductor and a second electrode including silver and provided on a second surface of the oxygen ion conductor opposite to the first surface across the oxygen ion conductor. The apparatus applies a voltage between the first and second electrodes such that oxygen ions move through the oxygen ion conductor from the first electrode toward the second electrode when satisfied is a purification condition that nitrogen oxide discharged from the NOx absorption/discharge device can be purified in the exhaust passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Kato, Yoshiyuki Sakamoto, Yasutaka Nagai
  • Timepiece
    Patent number: 9904252
    Abstract: Whether a bright state or a dark state is established is determined each time a motor is driven one step, based on a presence or absence of a passing of light through a detection hole disposed in a detection wheel that rotates associated with rotations of a hand wheel coupled with the motor. A switching position X is identified at which the dark state is switched to the bright state when the dark state is determined and thereafter the bright state is determined. A position one step after the identified switching position X is set to be a reference position X+1 of the hand wheel. The reference positions X+1 and X?1 can thereby be set after a driving mechanism is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Kato, Kazuya Imamura, Shoichiro Morita, Yuji Yano
  • Autonomous driving vehicle system
    Patent number: 9896101
    Abstract: An autonomous driving vehicle system includes a travel plan generation unit configured to generate a travel plan and a control width of a target control value, a travel control unit configured to calculate an instruction control value, and a behavior determination unit configured to determine whether or not a behavior change which is opposite to the most recent behavior change is performed. In a case where it is determined that the opposite behavior change is performed, the travel control unit is configured to calculate the instruction control value such that a behavior change amount of the most recent behavior change is smaller and becomes in the restricted vehicle state corresponding to the state within the control width compared to the case where the current vehicle state is caused to follow the target vehicle state when it is determined that the opposite behavior change is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira Kato
  • VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING INERTIA OPERATION OF VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20180043892
    Abstract: A vehicle control device turns off a clutch to put a vehicle into an inertia operation state in response to a predetermined executing condition being met, and turns on the clutch to terminate the inertia operation state in response to a predetermined terminating condition being met during the inertia operation. The vehicle control device includes a deceleration degree calculating device, a determination device, and an operation control device. The deceleration degree calculating device calculates an actual deceleration degree. The determination device determines whether the actual deceleration degree is greater than a threshold value defined on the basis of a deceleration degree of the vehicle in an accelerator-off and clutch-on state. The operation control device terminates or maintains the inertia operation depending on a condition of the actual deceleration degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru MAEDA, Akira KATO
  • INFORMATION OUTPUT DEVICE, CAMERA, INFORMATION OUTPUT SYSTEM, INFORMATION OUTPUT METHOD, AND PROGRAM
    Publication number: 20180025175
    Abstract: As information output device includes: a first output unit that outputs acquired information acquired by a sensor; and a second output unit that converts personal information included in the acquired information into attribute information from which identification of an individual is impossible, and outputs the attribute information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventor: Akira KATO
  • Reducing levels of nicotinic alkaloids in plants
    Patent number: 9856487
    Abstract: Two genes, A622 and NBB1, can be influenced to achieve a decrease of nicotinic alkaloid levels in plants. In particular, suppression of one or both of A622 and NBB1 may be used to decrease nicotine in tobacco plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: 22nd Century Limited, LLC
    Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto, Akira Kato