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: 20040022690
    Abstract: A fine channel device for performing a chemical treatment or for producing fine particles, having the degree of integration of fine particles two-dimensionally and three-dimensionally and capable of supplying a liquid to all of the fine channels evenly and producing products in a large quantity, is provided, and a small-sized chemical plant capable of achieving a production quantity comparable to a conventional large-scale chemical plant comprising the fine channel device as a fundamental constituent factor, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Applicant: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Koji Katayama, Toru Futami, Shinichi Matsumoto, Tomohiro Ohkawa, Tomoyuki Oikawa, Katsuyuki Hara
  • Publication number: 20030201022
    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: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Applicant: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Koji Kitayama, Toru Futami, Katsuyuki Hara, Tomohiro Ohkawa, Keiichiro Nishizawa, Hideaki Kiriya, Hirotatsu Kusakabe
  • Publication number: 20030053047
    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: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Koji Katayama, Toru Futami, Tomoyuki Oikawa, Keiichiro Nishizawa
  • Publication number: 20030004701
    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: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Noriyuki Ueta, Hideyuki Tanaka, Akira Kawai
  • Publication number: 20020150503
    Abstract: The fine channel device has a fine channel substrate having a fine channel, in which patterns of same or different concave-convex are formed in front and rear surfaces wherein a functional unit having an electrical, magnetic, physical or chemical function, or an information recording function is provided on the fine channel substrate three-dimensionally. Further, the fine channel device usable for analyzing permits use of a plurality of analyzing liquid reagents in order to analyze a plurality of specified substances, and can reduce the amount of usable sample and improves the sensitivity of fluorescence measurement. Further, the fine channel device is formed by laminating a plurality of substrates having a fine channel, in which patterns of same or different concave-convex are formed, efficiently. Further, a method for producing the fine channel device capable of producing it economically in a short time and in a large scale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Toshinori Hayashi, Toru Futami, Koji Katayama, Akira Kawai, Keiichiro Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 6441075
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polyolefin-based resin composition that is in an amount of 100 wt % in total. This composition includes (a) 60-66 wt % of a crystalline propylene-ethylene block copolymer, (b) 12-20 wt % of an ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber, and (c) 18-25 wt % of an inorganic filler. The block copolymer contains a first segment of a homopolymer of propylene and a second segment of a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, and has an isotactic pentad tacticity of at least 0.96. The ratio of the weight average molecular weight of the block copolymer to the number average molecular weight thereof is not greater than 6. The copolymer rubber contains therein 50-60 wt % of ethylene, and has a Mooney viscosity of from 45 to 55 at 125° C. The inorganic filler is one selected from the group consisting of a talc, a first combination of the talc and a glass fiber, and a second combination of the talc and a whisker. The talc has an average particle diameter of not greater than 2 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Nihon Plast Co., Ltd., Chisso Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Hirata, Kazuo Matsuyama, Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Kazushige Ohnishi, Minoru Adachi, Tamihiro Ohashi, Motoru Komatsu, Satoru Ichikawa, Masahiro Terada, Hirosuke Kamae, Akira Kawai
  • Patent number: 6309011
    Abstract: A front pillar garnish adapted to cover a front pillar disposed between a front windshield and a side door in an automotive vehicle. The front pillar garnish comprises a main body section formed of plastic and generally channel-shaped. The main body section is to be fixedly connected to the front pillar and located at the side of a passenger compartment. A plurality of generally plate-shaped energy absorbing ribs are integrally formed at the inner surface of the main body section in a manner to be generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body section. A plurality of bosses are integrally formed extending from the inner surface of the main body section. A clip supporting plate or member is fixedly secured to the tip end sections of the bosses and fixedly supported on the edges of the energy absorbing ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Matsuyama, Motoru Komatsu, Satoru Ichikawa, Akira Kawai, Satoru Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20010008915
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polyolefin-based resin composition that is in an amount of 100 wt % in total. This composition includes (a) 60-66 wt % of a crystalline propylene-ethylene block copolymer, (b) 12-20 wt % of an ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber, and (c) 18-25 wt % of an inorganic filler. The block copolymer contains a first segment of a homopolymer of propylene and a second segment of a copolymer of propylene and ethylene, and has an isotactic pentad tacticity of at least 0.96. The ratio of the weight average molecular weight of the block copolymer to the number average molecular weight thereof is not greater than 6. The copolymer rubber contains therein 50-60 wt % of ethylene, and has a Mooney viscosity of from 45 to 55 at 125° C. The inorganic filler is one selected from the group consisting of a talc, a first combination of the talc and a glass fiber, and a second combination of the talc and a whisker. The talc has an average particle diameter of not greater than 2 &mgr;m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventors: TOMIO HIRATA, MINORU ADACHI, TAMIHIRO OHASHI, KAZUO MATSUYAMA, KAZUYUKI YAMAMOTO, KAZUSHIGE OHNISHI, SATORU ICHIKAWA, MASAHIRO TERADA, HIROSUKE KAMAE, AKIRA KAWAI
  • Patent number: 6170902
    Abstract: A resin trim body is mounted on an inner door panel of a vehicle door. A flange is provided at a peripheral edge portion of the trim body and extends toward the door inner panel. A rib or ribs which extend between and integrally interconnect the flange and the trim body, are each formed with a structure which focusses stress and defines a rupturable portion at a front end edge thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonari Sakuma, Akira Kawai
  • Patent number: 6095591
    Abstract: A front pillar garnish adapted to cover a front pillar disposed between a front windshield and a side door in an automotive vehicle. The front pillar garnish comprises a main body section formed of plastic and generally channel-shaped. The main body section is to be fixedly connected to the front pillar and located at the side of a passenger compartment. A plurality of generally plate-shaped energy absorbing ribs are integrally formed at the inner surface of the main body section in a manner to be generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body section. A plurality of bosses are integrally formed extending from the inner surface of the main body section. A clip supporting member is fixedly secured to the tip end sections of the bosses and fixedly supported on the edges of the energy absorbing ribs. A clip formed of a spring material is fixedly mounted on the clip supporting member and fixable to the front pillar in order to install the front pillar garnish to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Matsuyama, Motoru Komatsu, Satoru Ichikawa, Akira Kawai, Satoru Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6059342
    Abstract: A car body structure comprises a pillar panel, and a pillar garnish molding made of synthetic resin and fitted to the pillar panel on the cabin side. The pillar garnish molding has a closed section which is enclosed by a base portion facing the pillar panel, a plurality of ribs formed upright on the surface of the base portion and formed at a distance along the longitudinal direction of the pillar panel, and a cover member formed to cover the ribs. Therefore the car body structure is capable of achieving good energy absorption efficiency of head impact deceleration even if the width of the pillar panel is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Motoru Komatsu, Satoru Ichikawa, Tetsuo Maki
  • Patent number: 6036251
    Abstract: A car trim including a plurality of ribs formed integrally and arranged vertically at a predetermined interval on a predetermined site of the rear face 1a of trim main body 1 for absorbing energy of collision, each rib being formed in a rectangular tube, each rib side wall 4a being tapared with thinning toward its distal end, and a rigidity changing portion P being disposed by integrally forming an auxiliary rib piece 5 on the rib side wall 4a for introducing buckling transformation of the rib 4 at a predetemined position in the rib side wall 4a. The rib also includes a first energy absorbing portion 5 and a second energy absorbing portion 6 formed in such a multi-stepped manner that the number of rib walls in the former step is different from that number in the latter step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignees: Kasai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Yagishita, Kazushi Yasue, Nobuhiko Takahashi, Akira Kawai
  • Patent number: 5965654
    Abstract: A polyolefin-based plastic composition suitable for an automotive molded pillar member such as a pillar garnish. The plastic composition comprises (A) block copolymer in an amount ranging from 53 to 68 parts by weight, the block copolymer having a Melt Flow Rate (at 230.degree. C. and under 2.16 kg) ranging from 20 to 50 g/10 min. and containing crystalline polypropylene section in an amount ranging from 90 to 95% by weight, having a density of not lower than 0.908 g/cm.sup.3, and propylene-ethylene random copolymer section in an amount ranging from 5 to 10% by weight, the propylene-ethylene random copolymer section having an ethylene content ranging from 35 to 45% by weight; (B) ethylene-1-butene copolymer rubber in an amount ranging from 12 to 20 parts by weight and having a density ranging from 0.85 to 0.87 g/cm.sup.3 and a Melt Flow Rate (at 230.degree. C. and under 2.16 kg) ranging from 0.2 to 5 g/10 min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd, Nihon Plast Co., Ltd., Japan Polychem Corporation
    Inventors: Tomio Hirata, Kazuo Matsuyama, Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Kazushige Ohnishi, Yukihito Zanka, Takuya Kurio, Takashi Niimi, Satoru Ichikawa, Motoru Komatsu, Masahiro Terada, Hirosuke Kamae, Akira Kawai
  • Patent number: 5934730
    Abstract: A car trim including a plurality of ribs formed integrally and arranged vertically at a predetermined interval on a predetermined site of the rear face 1a of trim main body 1 for absorbing energy of collision, each rib being formed in a rectangular tube, each rib side wall 4a being tapared with thinning toward its distal end, and a rigidity changing portion P being disposed by integrally forming an auxiliary rib piece 5 on the rib side wall 4a for introducing buckling transformation of the rib 4 at a predetemined position in the rib side wall 4a. The rib also includes a first energy absorbing portion 5 and a second energy absorbing portion 6 formed in such a multi-stepped manner that the number of rib walls in the former step is different from that number in the latter step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd, Kasai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fumio Yagishita, Kazushi Yasue, Nobuhiko Takahashi, Akira Kawai
  • Patent number: 5927786
    Abstract: A car body structure comprises a pillar panel, and a pillar garnish molding made of synthetic resin and fitted to the pillar panel on the cabin side. The pillar garnish molding has a closed section which is enclosed by a base portion facing the pillar panel a plurality of ribs formed upright on the surface of the base portion and formed at a distance along the longitudinal direction of the pillar panel, and a cover member formed to cover the ribs. Therefore the car body structure is capable of achieving good energy absorption efficiency of head impact deceleration even if the width of the pillar panel is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Motoru Komatsu, Satoru Ichikawa, Tetsuo Maki
  • Patent number: 5868458
    Abstract: A pillar garnish for a front pillar disposed between a front windshield glass and a side window glass of an automotive vehicle. The pillar garnish comprises a main body section formed of plastic and secured to a vehicle body. The main body section is generally channel-shaped to cover the front pillar forming part of the vehicle body. The main body section has an inner surface facing the front pillar, and an outer surface facing a vehicle passenger inside a passenger compartment. A plurality of reinforcement ribs are formed at the inner surface of the main body section and integral with the main body section. Each reinforcement rib extends perpendicular to the inner surface. Additionally, a plurality of auxiliary ribs are formed at the inner surface of the main body section and integral with the main body section. Each auxiliary rib extends parallel with each reinforcement rib. Each rib is located between the reinforcement ribs which are located adjacent each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomio Hirata, Kazuo Matsuyama, Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Kazushige Ohnishi, Motoru Komatsu, Satoru Ichikawa, Akira Kawai, Satoru Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 5833303
    Abstract: A pillar construction for a vehicle body includes a steel pad formed from a resilient sheet steel and disposed between a pillar inner panel of a pillar main body and a pillar trim. In a secondary collision in which the pillar trim is subjected to a force directed outward of a vehicle body and deformed thereby, the steel pad produces a reaction force against deformation of the pillar trim at the initial stage of the secondary collision and substantially no reaction force at the final stage of the secondary collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Kenichi Saito, Tetsuo Maki
  • Patent number: 5741044
    Abstract: A bracket is provided with a projection having its tip displaced from a rear panel of a pillar inner panel toward the rear end of the automobile and the projection is provided with a through bore and that the garnish main body has its inner surface held in linear contact with the tip of the projection of the bracket and includes a boss inserted into the through bore of the projection of the bracket and supported by the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Tetsuo Maki, Shozo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5403422
    Abstract: A method for producing decorative plates, comprising the steps of (i) providing a transfer printing sheet which comprises (a) a substrate film comprising a synthetic resin, (b) a releasing layer formed, optionally, on the substrate film, (c) a pattern layer formed on the substrate film or on the releasing layer if it is provided, and (d) an adhesive layer formed on the pattern layer, (ii) superposing the transfer printing sheet on a base sheet, (iii) hot-pressing the transfer printing sheet and the base sheet, (iv) peeling the substrate film off the transfer printing sheet thereby to transfer the pattern layer on the base sheet, (v) impregnating the base sheet with a thermosetting resin, and (vi) hot-pressing the resulting base sheet to harden the thermosetting resin to give a decorative plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kawai, Hajime Kubota, Seiji Kawahara
  • Patent number: 5264310
    Abstract: Alignment marks capable of providing accurate registration signals even if substrate surface is rough and capable of effectively preventing degradation of registration accuracy due to unevenness of a surface of a resist film, and method of forming such alignment marks are disclosed. The alignment marks include flat portions 1a having high vertical reflectance serving as the alignment mark portions and rough portions 1b, formed spaced apart from each other by a prescribed distance on a surface of a substrate 1 by irradiation of laser beam 50. Therefore, fluctuation of height of a surface of a resist film 13 formed on the alignment marks with an upper layer film posed therebetween can be prevented, and in turn, degradation of registration accuracy of masks due to the unevenness of the resist film surface can be effectively prevented. Even if the surface of the substrate is rough, flat portions 1a providing accurate signal waveforms can be easily formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Kawai