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).
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Patent number: 9640546Abstract: A semiconductor memory array includes a first nonvolatile memory cell having a first charge storage layer and a first gate electrode and a second nonvolatile memory cell, adjacent to the first memory cell in a first direction, having a second charge storage layer and a second gate electrode. The first and second electrodes extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the first electrode has a first contact section extending toward the second electrode in the first direction, and the second electrode has a second contact section extending toward the first electrode in the first direction. The first and second contact positions are shifted in the second direction, respectively, and the first electrode and the first contact section are electrically separated from the second electrode and the second contact section.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Renesas Electronics CorporationInventors: Tsutomu Okazaki, Daisuke Okada, Kyoya Nitta, Toshihiro Tanaka, Akira Kato, Toshikazu Matsui, Yasushi Ishii, Digh Hisamoto, Kan Yasui
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Patent number: 9606515Abstract: Provided is a satellite radio-controlled watch, which is capable of holding back a receiving operation when in a posture that does not allow normal reception of a satellite signal, and is capable of performing a receiving operation under conditions varied to suit the type of reference information to be obtained. The satellite radio-controlled watch includes: a reception circuit (31) for receiving a satellite signal; and a controller (47) for sequentially detecting a received light amount of the satellite radio-controlled watch, calculating a received light variation which is an amount of change of the received light amount, and controlling the reception circuit (31) to start an operation of receiving the satellite signal, based on the received light variation.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2011Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignees: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD., CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.Inventors: Takushi Hagita, Akira Kato, Akinari Takada
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Publication number: 20170084370Abstract: A magnetic compound represented by the formula (R1(1-x)R2x)a(Fe(1-y)Coy)bTcMd wherein R1 is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Sm, Pm, Er, Tm and Yb, R2 is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Zr, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho and Lu, T is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Mo, Si and W, M is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of unavoidable impurity elements, Al, Cr, Cu, Ga, Ag and Au, 0?x?0.7, 0?y?0.7, 4?a?20, b=100-a-c-d, 0<c<7.7, and 0?d?3, the magnetic compound having a ThMn12-type crystal structure, wherein the volume fraction of ?-(Fe, Co) phase is less than 12.3%.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Noritsugu SAKUMA, Masao YANO, Akira KATO, Akira MANABE, Shunji SUZUKI, Kurima KOBAYASHI
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Patent number: 9599968Abstract: In a satellite radio-controlled wristwatch, processing ranging from a user's operation through a reception operation to the completion of time adjustment is rapidly accomplished.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2013Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.Inventors: Akira Kato, Ken Kitamura
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Publication number: 20170017206Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2016Publication date: January 19, 2017Applicants: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.Inventors: Akira KATO, Kazuya IMAMURA, Shoichiro MORITA, Yuji YANO
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Patent number: 9523141Abstract: Provided is an Mg alloy and a method for producing same able to demonstrate high strength without requiring an expensive rare earth element (RE). The high-strength Mg alloy containing Ca and Zn within a solid solubility limit and the remainder having a chemical composition comprising Mg and unavoidable impurities is characterized in comprising equiaxial crystal particles, there being a segregated area of Ca and Zn along the (c) axis of a Mg hexagonal lattice within the crystal particle, and having a structure in which the segregated area is lined up by Mg3 atomic spacing in the (a) axis of the Mg hexagonal lattice. The method for producing the high-strength Mg alloy is characterized in that Ca and Zn are added to Mg in a compounding amount corresponding to the above composition and, after homogenization heat treating an ingot formed by dissolution and casting, the above structure is formed by subjecting the ingot to hot processing.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2012Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION KOBE UNIVERSITY, NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCEInventors: Kota Washio, Akira Kato, Toshiji Mukai, Alok Singh, Hidetoshi Somekawa
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Publication number: 20160365804Abstract: A magnetic device includes a winding, and insulators by which the winding is surrounded. Each of the insulators is in contact with the winding. A gap exists between each two adjacent of the insulators in a winding direction of the winding.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2016Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventors: YOSHITAKE NAKAGAWA, TAKEHIKO YAMAKAWA, MOTOHIKO FUJIMURA, AKIRA KATO, KAZUYUKI SAKIYAMA
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Patent number: 9520230Abstract: A rare earth magnet, which is represented by a neodymium magnet (Nd2Fe14B) and neodymium magnet films with applications in micro-systems. A method for producing a rare earth magnet, comprising: (a) quenching a molten metal having a rare earth magnet composition to form quenched flakes of nanocrystalline structure; sintering the quenched flakes; subjecting the sintered body obtained to an orientation treatment; and applying a heat treatment with pressurization at a temperature sufficiently high to enable diffusion or fluidization of a grain boundary phase and at the same time, low enough to prevent coarsening of the crystal grains, (b) thick films deposited on a substrate, applying an annealing to crystallize with pressurization at a temperature sufficiently high to enable diffusion or fluidization of a grain boundary phase and, at the same time, low enough to prevent coarsening of the crystal grains.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2011Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, LEIBNIZ INSTITUTE FOR SOLID STATE AND MATERIALS RESEARCH DRESDEN, UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELDInventors: Noritsugu Sakuma, Hidefumi Kishimoto, Akira Kato, Tetsuya Shoji, Dominique Givord, Nora Dempsey, Thomas George Woodcock, Oliver Gutfleisch, Gino Hrkac, Thomas Schrefl
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Patent number: 9494123Abstract: In a system for driving a starter with a pinion so that the starter rotates a ring gear coupled to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine to crank the internal combustion engine during a drop of a rotational speed of the crankshaft by automatic-stop control of the internal combustion engine, a predictor predicts a future trajectory of the drop of the rotational speed of the crankshaft based on information associated with the drop of the rotational speed of the crankshaft. A determiner determines a timing of the driving of the starter based on the future trajectory of the drop of the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2010Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Shinsuke Kawazu, Hideya Notani, Akira Kato
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Publication number: 20160326927Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Inventors: Akira Kato, Yoshiyuki Sakamoto, Yasutaka Nagai
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Publication number: 20160311431Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2016Publication date: October 27, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akira KATO
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Publication number: 20160272035Abstract: A vehicle height adjustment apparatus includes:f vehicle height adjustment units that are respectively provided to correspond to wheels of a vehicle body, and change a vehicle height according to supply and discharge of a working fluid; a supply source of the working fluid; opening and closing valves interposed between the vehicle height adjustment units and the supply source; and a control unit configured to control the vehicle height adjustment units so as to change the vehicle height to either one of a first vehicle height or a second vehicle height different from the first vehicle height, wherein the control unit adjusts a working fluid supply and discharge state of each of the vehicle height adjustment units to a vehicle height change start state prior to changing the vehicle height from the second vehicle height to the first vehicle height.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masaaki Oishi, Yasuaki Nakaya, Akira Kato
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Patent number: 9447752Abstract: [Subject] A low-cost and brief method to detect an airtight failure in a working-gas circulating type gas engine with sufficient accuracy and a working-gas circulating type gas engine using the method should be provided. [Means for Solution] In a working-gas circulating type gas engine, an extra predetermined quantity 1 of at least one of fuel gas, oxidizer gas, and working gas is supplied as surplus gas into a circulation passage. Based on the difference between this predetermined quantity 1 and increment of this predetermined quantity 1 and the increment of the quantity of the gas in the circulation passage separately detected by a gas quantity detecting means, the existence of an airtight failure in the engine is judged.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2011Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Daisaku Sawada, Akira Kato
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Patent number: 9429889Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a heater; a supporting member for supporting the heater; and a high heat-conductive sheet sandwiched between a part of the heater and the supporting member. A recording material on which an image is formed is heated by heat from the heater. The supporting member includes a bearing surface contacting the sheet so as to apply pressure between the heater and the sheet and includes an opposing portion opposing a part of the heater not sandwiching the sheet. In a state in which the pressure is applied between the heater and the sheet, the thickness of the sheet is not less than the height of the stepped portion between the bearing portion and the opposing portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuji Fujiwara, Yasuhiro Shimura, Hideaki Yonekubo, Hisashi Nakahara, Akira Kato, Noriaki Tanaka, Hideyuki Matsubara, Hiroyuki Tanaka
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Publication number: 20160222856Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2014Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akira KATO
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Publication number: 20160216668Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a heater including a substrate and a heat generating element; a supporting member; a high heat-conductive member. The recording material on which an image is formed is heated by heat from the heater. The supporting member has a bottom region, where the supporting member supports the heater, including a first region where the supporting member contacts the high heat-conductive member so as to apply pressure between the heater and the high heat-conductive member and including a second region where the supporting member is recessed from the high heat-conductive member relative to the first region. At least a part of the first region overlaps, with respect to a movement direction of the recording material, with a region where the heat generating element is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Yasuhiro Shimura, Hideaki Yonekubo, Hisashi Nakahara, Akira Kato, Noriaki Tanaka, Hideyuki Matsubara, Yuji Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20160190085Abstract: A manufacturing method of a semiconductor module, includes: forming a Ni plating layer on a surface of a first lead frame; forming a Au plating layer on a surface of the Ni plating layer; manufacturing an intermediate body that a semiconductor element is soldered to the first lead frame; forming a primer layer by applying a primer to a surface of the intermediate body and then drying the primer; molding a sealing resin body on a surface of the primer layer; and performing heat treatment so that Ni included in the Ni plating layer is dispersed in the Au plating layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2015Publication date: June 30, 2016Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akira KATO
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Publication number: 20160172982Abstract: A power converter includes a transformer including a transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding magnetically coupled to the primary winding, a bridge circuit including a switching element, and an inductor. A direct current voltage is converted into an alternating current voltage by turning on and off the switching element in the bridge circuit. An output voltage in the secondary winding is induced by supplying the alternating current voltage to the primary winding. The inductor is disposed on a path connecting the switching element and the primary winding. A resonance inductance value Lr including a leakage inductance value of the transformer and an inductance value of the inductor satisfies Formula 1.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: MASAHIRO YAMAOKA, TAKEHIKO YAMAKAWA, AKIRA KATO
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Patent number: 9342010Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: a heater including a substrate and a heat generating element; a supporting member; and a high heat-conductive member. The recording material on which an image is formed is heated by heat from the heater. The supporting member has a bottom region, where the supporting member supports the heater, including a first region where the supporting member contacts the high heat-conductive member so as to apply pressure between the heater and the high heat-conductive member and including a second region where the supporting member is recessed from the high heat-conductive member relative to the first region. At least a part of the first region overlaps, with respect to a movement direction of the recording material, with a region where the heat generating element is provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2014Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhiro Shimura, Hideaki Yonekubo, Hisashi Nakahara, Akira Kato, Noriaki Tanaka, Hideyuki Matsubara, Yuji Fujiwara
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Patent number: 9317017Abstract: A reception time period required for time adjustment is reduced in a satellite radio-controlled wristwatch.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2013Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignees: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD., CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.Inventor: Akira Kato