Patents by Inventor Akira Kawai

Akira Kawai 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: 20130015789
    Abstract: An electric tool comprises a removable battery pack 2 as a power supply, a motor M as a power source, a drive unit being driven by said motor, a switch SW as an operation input unit, and a control circuit CPU controlling the driving of said motor according to the operation of said switch. The electric tool further comprises a power supply connection unit that enables a plurality of battery pack types, which have different rated output voltages, to be selectively connected, and an identification means that identifies the type of said battery pack that has been connected. Said control circuit is configured to control an output of said motor based on identification information for the type of said battery pack that has been connected, provided by said identification means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyazaki, Hidenori Shimizu, Akira Kawai, Masaaki Okada
  • Publication number: 20110043166
    Abstract: A charging circuit includes a battery pack provided with one or more secondary batteries and a battery charger for charging the secondary batteries, the battery pack being detachably attachable to the battery charger. The charging circuit further includes a control unit for performing a charging control, a monitoring unit for detecting charged voltage of the secondary batteries to determine completion of charging, a storage unit storing charging data for use in the charging control of the control unit and determination of the charging completion of the monitoring unit and a changing unit for changing the charging data. The monitoring unit and the storage unit are arranged in the battery pack, and the changing unit and the control unit are arranged in the battery charger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Power Tools Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Masaaki Sakaue
  • Patent number: 7718099
    Abstract: A fine channel device capable of producing fine particles in an industrial scale, hardening the fine particles immediately after the production and recovering the fine particles from a medium without collapsing the shape of the produced fine particles, a fine particle producing method using the fine channel device and a solvent extraction method using the fine channel, are presented. The fine channel device comprises a fine channel provided with an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a dispersion phase, an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a continuous phase, and an outlet channel and an outlet port which discharge fine particles produced by the dispersion phase and the continuous phase, wherein the inlet channel for feeding the dispersion phase and the inlet channel for feeding the continuous phase are joined at an arbitrary angle, and the two inlet channels are connected to the outlet channel at the arbitrary angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Koji Kitayama, Toru Futami, Katsuyuki Hara, Tomohiro Ohkawa, Keiichiro Nishizawa, Hideaki Kiriya, Hirotatsu Kusakabe
  • Publication number: 20100051543
    Abstract: A fine channel device including a fine channel provided with at least two inlet ports for feeding fluid, inlet channels communicated with the inlet ports, a confluent portion communicated with the inlet channels, a branch portion communicated with the fine channel, from which at least two outlet channels are branched to feed predetermined amounts of fluid, and outlet ports communicated with the outlet channels. The fine channel is provided with a plurality of partition walls arranged along a boundary formed by at least two kinds of fluid fed from the inlet ports so as not to cause mutual contamination of fluid. Furthermore, the plurality of partition walls are spaced apart at intervals in a flowing direction of fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru FUTAMI, Tomohiro Ohkawa, Tomoyuki Oikawa, Akira Kawai, Koji Katayama, Keiichiro Nishizawa
  • Publication number: 20100019408
    Abstract: A fine channel device containing a fine channel substrate that includes a fine channel for channeling fluids, and through holes, wherein the fine channel and the through holes are interconnected via an interconnection portion, as well as a mold that is equipped with pins forming the through holes in the fine channel substrate, wherein the positions of the pins and the number pins be altered as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira KAWAI, Katsuyuki Hara, Koji Katayama, Toru Futami
  • Patent number: 7641871
    Abstract: A fine channel device including a fine channel provided with at least two inlet ports for feeding fluid, inlet channels communicated with the inlet ports, a confluent portion communicated with the inlet channels, a branch portion communicated with the fine channel, from which at least two outlet channels are branched to feed predetermined amounts of fluid, and outlet ports communicated with the outlet channels. The fine channel is provided with a plurality of partition walls arranged along a boundary formed by at least two kinds of fluid fed from the inlet ports so as not to cause mutual contamination of fluid. Furthermore, the plurality of partition walls are spaced apart at intervals in a flowing direction of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Futami, Tomohiro Ohkawa, Tomoyuki Oikawa, Akira Kawai, Koji Katayama, Keiichiro Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 7612525
    Abstract: An electrical apparatus includes an electrical apparatus main body and a battery pack. The electrical apparatus main body has a load, a manipulation switch, a power receiving electrode, a main body control unit for controlling the electric power supplied from the power receiving electrode in response to a manipulation of the manipulation switch, a signal generation unit for generating an on-manipulation signal if the manipulation switch is switched on, and a main body signal electrode for outputting the on-manipulation signal. The battery pack has a battery, a power supplying electrode, a battery control unit for controlling the electric power supplied from the battery to the power supplying electrode, a battery signal electrode for receiving the on-manipulation signal, and a power supplying unit for starting a power supply from the battery to the battery control unit when the battery signal electrode receives the on-manipulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ito, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Toshiharu Ohashi, Akira Kawai
  • Patent number: 7570000
    Abstract: In a control drive circuit for an electric power tool, a bridge-structured motor, which has a bridge structure and includes switching elements and a motor body, is connected to a power supply unit without any mechanical contacts, and an electric power is supplied to a control circuit for controlling the switching elements by turning on a trigger switch. Further, a circuit switch is provided at power supply sides of drive circuits for driving the switching elements, the circuit switch being controlled by the control circuit to interrupt supply of the electric power to the drive circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyazaki, Akira Kawai
  • Patent number: 7553434
    Abstract: A fine channel device capable of producing fine particles in an industrial scale, hardening the fine particles immediately after the production and recovering the fine particles from a medium without collapsing the shape of the produced fine particles, a fine particle producing method using the fine channel device and a solvent extraction method using the fine channel, are presented. The fine channel device comprises a fine channel provided with an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a dispersion phase, an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a continuous phase, and an outlet channel and an outlet port which discharge fine particles produced by the dispersion phase and the continuous phase, wherein the inlet channel for feeding the dispersion phase and the inlet channel for feeding the continuous phase are joined at an arbitrary angle, and the two inlet channels are connected to the outlet channel at the arbitrary angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Koji Kitayama, Toru Futami, Katsuyuki Hara, Tomohiro Ohkawa, Keiichiro Nishizawa, Hideaki Kiriya, Hirotatsu Kusakabe
  • Publication number: 20080246172
    Abstract: A fine channel device capable of producing fine particles in an industrial scale, hardening the fine particles immediately after the production and recovering the fine particles from a medium without collapsing the shape of the produced fine particles, a fine particle producing method using the fine channel device and a solvent extraction method using the fine channel, are presented. The fine channel device comprises a fine channel provided with an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a dispersion phase, an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a continuous phase, and an outlet channel and an outlet port which discharge fine particles produced by the dispersion phase and the continuous phase, wherein the inlet channel for feeding the dispersion phase and the inlet channel for feeding the continuous phase are joined at an arbitrary angle, and the two inlet channels are connected to the outlet channel at the arbitrary angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira KAWAI, Koji Kitayama, Toru Futami, Katsuyuki Hara, Tomohiro Ohkawa, Keiichiro Nishizawa, Hideaki Kiriya, Hirotatsu Kusakabe
  • Publication number: 20080223720
    Abstract: A microchannel structure including a dispersed-phase introduction channel which communicates with a dispersed-phase introduction inlet; a continuous-phase introduction channel which communicates with a continuous-phase introduction inlet; a discharge channel which communicates with a discharge outlet; a fine-particle formation channel; and a plurality of branch channels for dispersed-phase introduction which are microchannels; wherein one end of the fine-particle formation channel in a fluid traveling direction communicates with the continuous-phase introduction channel whereas the other end thereof communicates with the discharge channel; and wherein a side part of the dispersed-phase introduction channel and side part of the fine-particle formation channel communicate via the plurality of branch channel for dispersed-phase introduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maho Yamanaka, Akira Kawai, Koji Katayama, Hiroki Takamiya
  • Patent number: 7338641
    Abstract: A fine channel device for performing a chemical treatment or for producing fine particles, capable of supplying a liquid to the fine channels evenly and producing products in a large quantity is provided. The fine channel device includes a storage space having a circular or polygonal recess for temporarily storing fluid, and supply channels formed in a radial direction from the storage space. A small chemical plant includes a plurality of the fine channel devices as fundamental constituents and a mechanism to supply at least one fluid and a mechanism to recover products produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Koji Katayama, Toru Futami, Shinichi Matsumoto, Tomohiro Ohkawa, Tomoyuki Oikawa, Katsuyuki Hara
  • Publication number: 20070200516
    Abstract: In a control drive circuit for an electric power tool, a bridge-structured motor, which has a bridge structure and includes switching elements and a motor body, is connected to a power supply unit without any mechanical contacts, and an electric power is supplied to a control circuit for controlling the switching elements by turning on a trigger switch. Further, a circuit switch is provided at power supply sides of drive circuits for driving the switching elements, the circuit switch being controlled by the control circuit to interrupt supply of the electric power to the drive circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyazaki, Akira Kawai
  • Patent number: 7201873
    Abstract: A device includes a first substrate having a channel formed on front and rear surfaces of the first substrate, and an information recording layer forming an optical recording medium on at least one of the front and rear surfaces of the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Toshinori Hayashi, Toru Futami, Koji Katayama, Akira Kawai, Keiichiro Nishizawa
  • Publication number: 20070053812
    Abstract: A fine channel device containing a fine channel substrate that includes a fine channel for channeling fluids, and through holes, wherein the fine channel and the through holes are interconnected via an interconnection portion, as well as a mold that is equipped with pins for forming the through holes in the fine channel substrate, wherein the positions of the pins and the number of pins can be altered as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Katsuyuki Hara, Koji Katayama, Toru Futami
  • Publication number: 20060231136
    Abstract: A fine channel device capable of producing fine particles in an industrial scale, hardening the fine particles immediately after the production and recovering the fine particles from a medium without collapsing the shape of the produced fine particles, a fine particle producing method using the fine channel device and a solvent extraction method using the fine channel, are presented. The fine channel device comprises a fine channel provided with an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a dispersion phase, an inlet port and an inlet channel which feed a continuous phase, and an outlet channel and an outlet port which discharge fine particles produced by the dispersion phase and the continuous phase, wherein the inlet channel for feeding the dispersion phase and the inlet channel for feeding the continuous phase are joined at an arbitrary angle, and the two inlet channels are connected to the outlet channel at the arbitrary angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Applicant: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Koji Kitayama, Toru Futami, Katsuyuki Hara, Tomohiro Ohkawa, Keiichiro Nishizawa, Hideaki Kiriya, Hirotatsu Kusakabe
  • Publication number: 20060214627
    Abstract: An electrical apparatus includes an electrical apparatus main body and a battery pack. The electrical apparatus main body has a load, a manipulation switch, a power receiving electrode, a main body control unit for controlling the electric power supplied from the power receiving electrode in response to a manipulation of the manipulation switch, a signal generation unit for generating an on-manipulation signal if the manipulation switch is switched on, and a main body signal electrode for outputting the on-manipulation signal. The battery pack has a battery, a power supplying electrode, a battery control unit for controlling the electric power supplied from the battery to the power supplying electrode, a battery signal electrode for receiving the on-manipulation signal, and a power supplying unit for starting a power supply from the battery to the battery control unit when the battery signal electrode receives the on-manipulation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Ito, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Toshiharu Ohashi, Akira Kawai
  • Patent number: 6791677
    Abstract: An information measuring apparatus having a fine channel device comprises at least one detector for measuring information supplied from a plurality of measuring portions formed in the fine channel device, a position-holding/determining means for holding and positioning the fine channel device, a rotating means for rotating the fine channel device at a predetermined angle, a position-determining means for positioning the measuring portion and the detector, wherein information supplied from the measuring portions in the fine channel device is measured successively by rotating the fine channel device at the predetermined angle, whereby information from the measuring portions is stably and efficiently measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Koji Katayama, Toru Futami, Tomoyuki Oikawa, Keiichiro Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 6750390
    Abstract: An automatic performing apparatus and an electronic instrument with which a user can carry out an automatic musical performance, even for a complicated arrangement, simply by providing external events at certain intervals or corresponding only to a melody. In such an electronic instrument, at the time of execution of the automatic musical performance, the keyboard events are provided at intervals of one beat. Then, the automatic musical performance is progressed within a certain section corresponding to each of the provided keyboard events. Otherwise, at the time of execution of the automatic musical performance, the keyboard events are provided at the timing of a melody. Then, musical tones for the corresponding melody are generated, while those for accompaniments following the melody are also automatically generated. Furthermore, the tempo of the automatic musical performance is set on the basis of intervals between the keyboard events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Noriyuki Ueta, Hideyuki Tanaka, Akira Kawai
  • Publication number: 20040028580
    Abstract: A fine channel device comprising a fine channel (19) provided with at least two inlet ports (11, 28, 29) for feeding fluid, inlet channels communicated with the inlet ports, a confluent portion (37) communicated with the inlet channels to feed the fluid, a branch portion (4) communicated with the fine channel, from which at least two outlet channels are branched to feed predetermined amounts of fluid, and outlet ports (12, 30, 31) communicated with the outlet channels, wherein the fine channel (19) is provided with a plurality of partition walls (22) along a boundary formed by at least two kinds of fluid (13, 14) fed from the inlet ports so as not to cause mutual contamination of fluid, whereby different kinds of fluid flowing in the fine channel in an adjacent state can form stably the fluid boundary and each kind of fluid can be discharged from a predetermined outlet port separately without causing the mutual contamination of fluid between adjacent flows of the fluid, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Futami, Tomohiro Ohkawa, Tomoyuki Oikawa, Akira Kawai, Koji Katayama, Keiichiro Nishizawa