Patents by Inventor Akira Kikuchi

Akira Kikuchi 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: 8520404
    Abstract: A fixing member for fixing a blindfold plate to a support post where a fixing hole is formed, the fixing member includes: a deformation portion that is attached to the blindfold plate, and is inserted in to the fixing hole while being deformed and stays in the fixing hole in a deformed condition when the blindfold plate is fixed to the support post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Akihiro Hamaguchi, Eichiro Okumura, Akira Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8466573
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator system can regulate the rotational velocity of the wind turbine within an operation range even when the wind velocity suddenly changes and can perform continuous operation of the wind turbine. The wind turbine generator system includes a generator connected to the shaft of the wind turbine and a converter connected to the generator. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is within a predetermined range, power outputted from the generator is controlled so as to follow the instruction concerning the generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is out of the predetermined range, the power outputted from the generator is controlled without following the instruction concerning generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Mitsugu Matsutake, Kouichi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20130144480
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle equipped with electric motors (1, 4) for driving or braking drive wheels (3, 6), and an electric motor controller (33) for controlling the electric motors includes: wheel speed detectors (9 to 12) for detecting the wheel speed of the drive wheels and that of idler wheels (7, 8); computing means (22 to 28, 35 to 38) for computing the slip ratio of the drive wheels based on the wheel speed of the drive wheels and that of the idler wheels; and a determiner (29) for determining that the drive wheels are slipping if the slip ratio exceeds a slip ratio determination value. If the wheel speed of the idler wheels is lower than set speeds Va2, Vb2, then the determiner (29) changes the slip ratio determination value to a value having as the same sign as, and a larger absolute value than, the values ?a2, ?b2 used when the wheel speed of the idler wheels is higher than the set speeds Va2, Vb2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Akira Kikuchi, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Satou, Kichio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8454495
    Abstract: A capsule medical apparatus includes a capsule exterior member and a sensor that can detect the change of an atmospheric physical quantity caused outside the exterior member in the non-contact state, and performs, based on the temporary change in atmospheric physical quantity detected by the sensor, at least one of first control for switching operation from the ON-state of energy supply to the electric circuit from the battery to the OFF-state of the energy supply and of second control for switching operation from the OFF-state of the power supply to the ON-state of the power supply, and holds the state of energy supply switched by the control until another change of atmospheric physical quantity is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hironao Kawano, Hironobu Takizawa, Akio Uchiyama, Hidetake Segawa, Manabu Fujita, Akira Kikuchi, Takeshi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 8374070
    Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate, a magnetic recording layer formed on the substrate to record magnetic information, and a piezoelectric material disposed adjacent to the magnetic recording layer and capable of contracting and expanding. Preferably, piezoelectric members made of the piezoelectric material are formed in such a manner as to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other on the substrate in a direction crossing a track on the magnetic recording layer, and the magnetic recording layer is formed between the piezoelectric members. When subjected to laser light or ultraviolet radiation, the piezoelectric material contracts or expands at least in the direction crossing the track. The piezoelectric material is selected from the group consisting of lead lanthanum zirconate titanate, barium titanate, and potassium niobate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Hisato Shibata, Hideaki Takahoshi, Yuki Yoshida, Akira Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8319621
    Abstract: A vehicle which evaluates tire wear properly even in a road condition that tires easily slip or lock up. The vehicle, which has a driven wheel and a driving wheel with tires attached thereto, includes: a revolution speed detector for detecting revolution speeds of the driven and driving wheels; a wheel speed detector for detecting wheel speeds of the driven and driving wheels based on the detected revolution speed data of the driven and driving wheels; a wheel speed ratio detector for detecting a wheel speed ratio between the driven and driving wheels based on the detected wheel speed data of the driven and driving wheels; and a tire condition evaluator for outputting an evaluation result indicating that the tire(s) attached to the driven wheel and/or driving wheel is(are) worn when the wheel speed ratio is higher than a preset threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Motoo Futami, Toshikazu Minoshima, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato, Kichio Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20120286511
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator system can regulate the rotational velocity of the wind turbine within an operation range even when the wind velocity suddenly changes and can perform continuous operation of the wind turbine. The wind turbine generator system includes a generator connected to the shaft of the wind turbine and a converter connected to the generator. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is within a predetermined range, power outputted from the generator is controlled so as to follow the instruction concerning the generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is out of the predetermined range, the power outputted from the generator is controlled without following the instruction concerning generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Akira KIKUCHI, Masaya ICHINOSE, Motoo FUTAMI, Mitsugu MATSUTAKE, Kouichi MIYAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20120279793
    Abstract: Provided is an electrically driven vehicle capable of suppressing drive wheel slipping, even in low-speed regions where wheel speeds are undetectable. The vehicle has driven wheels 7, 8 and drive wheels 3, 6, and the drive wheels 3, 6 are driven by electric motors 1, 4. The vehicle further includes a motor controller 22 which, if wheel speeds of the driven wheels 7, 8 that are detected by speed detectors 11, 12, or a body speed of the vehicle that is detected by a vehicle body speed detector 41 is less than a first setting value, regulates a torque that is output from the motors 1, 4, in order that wheel speeds of the drive wheels 3, 6 are less than a second setting value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato, Kichio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8300972
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: an extraction section extracting a subject area having a predetermined feature in an image; a first calculation section calculating a first blur degree indicating a blur degree of the extracted subject area; a second calculation section calculating, when the number of subject areas from which the first blur degree is calculated is one, a second blur degree indicating a blur degree of the entire image based on the first blur degree, and calculating, when the number of subject areas from which the first blur degree is calculated is plural, the second blur degree based on a value obtained by performing weighted averaging on the plural first blur degrees in accordance with dimensions of the plural subject areas; and a sorting section sorting an image having the calculated second blur degree equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value, as a blur image, from plural images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Hosaka, Kosuke Kimura, Kuniichiro Naruse, Kazuma Igari, Sadamichi Bamba, Yukiko Akiyama, Mitsuo Okumura, Akira Kikuchi, Hidefumi Kashima
  • Patent number: 8242620
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator system can regulate the rotational velocity of the wind turbine within an operation range even when the wind velocity suddenly changes and can perform continuous operation of the wind turbine. The wind turbine generator system includes a generator connected to the shaft of the wind turbine and a converter connected to the generator. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is within a predetermined range, power outputted from the generator is controlled so as to follow the instruction concerning the generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is out of the predetermined range, the power outputted from the generator is controlled without following the instruction concerning generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Mitsugu Matsutake, Kouichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8151915
    Abstract: An electric drive vehicle having a power generator coupled to an engine, a first power converter connected with the power generator for converting the AC power generated by the power generator to DC power, a second power converter connected with the first power converter, for converting the DC power to AC power, a power consuming device for consuming the DC power, connected to a DC circuit between the first and second power converters, an electric motor connected with the second power converter, and at least one wheel driven by the electric motor, wherein the vehicle has a first control mode for controlling the output of the electric motor and a second control mode for controlling the power consumed by the power consuming device, and the second control mode performs such control that the operations of the second power converter and the electric motor in the first control mode are simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Keizo Shimada, Kichio Nakajima, Toshikazu Minoshima, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takashi Ikimi
  • Publication number: 20120019959
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a non-magnetic granular layer, and a recording layer provided on the non-magnetic granular layer, wherein the recording layer includes a first granular magnetic layer provided on the non-magnetic granular layer, and a second granular magnetic layer provided on the first granular magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic material magnetically separating metal grains of the non-magnetic granular layer is different from a non-magnetic material magnetically separating magnetic grains of the first granular magnetic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Ryo Kurita, Satoshi Igarashi, Isatake Kaitsu, Akira Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8091164
    Abstract: There is provided an assisting table capable of horizontally holding a subject and holding an angle at which a head of a subject is supported in an inclined state, and an assisting instrument, which includes a containing portion for containing a fluid to introduce a capsule medical device into a body cavity, capable of ejecting a capsule medical device with the fluid from the containing portion by detachably attaching the capsule medical device at a distal end opening portion of the containing portion and by changing a shape of the containing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetake Segawa, Takeshi Yokoi, Akira Kikuchi, Hironobu Takizawa, Akio Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20110286196
    Abstract: A fixing member for fixing a blindfold plate to a support post where a fixing hole is formed, the fixing member includes: a deformation portion that is attached to the blindfold plate, and is inserted in to the fixing hole while being deformed and stays in the fixing hole in a deformed condition when the blindfold plate is fixed to the support post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Akihiro HAMAGUCHI, Eichiro Okumura, Akira Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8057927
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a nonmagnetic granular layer that has a granular structure in which a plurality of nonmagnetic grains made of a nonmagnetic material are separated from one another by a Cr oxide. The magnetic recording medium further includes a magnetic granular layer that is formed on the nonmagnetic granular layer and has a granular structure in which a plurality of magnetic grains made of a magnetic material are separated from one another by a nonmagnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Satoshi Igarashi, Tohru Horie, Ryo Kurita, Isatake Kaitsu, Akira Kikuchi, Shinya Sato
  • Publication number: 20110266799
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator system can regulate the rotational velocity of the wind turbine within an operation range even when the wind velocity suddenly changes and can perform continuous operation of the wind turbine. The wind turbine generator system includes a generator connected to the shaft of the wind turbine and a converter connected to the generator. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is within a predetermined range, power outputted from the generator is controlled so as to follow the instruction concerning the generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is out of the predetermined range, the power outputted from the generator is controlled without following the instruction concerning generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Mitsugu Matsutake, Kouichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7952216
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator system can regulate the rotational velocity of the wind turbine within an operation range even when the wind velocity suddenly changes and can perform continuous operation of the wind turbine. The wind turbine generator system includes a generator connected to the shaft of the wind turbine and a converter connected to the generator. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is within a predetermined range, power outputted from the generator is controlled so as to follow the instruction concerning the generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is out of the predetermined range, the power outputted from the generator is controlled without following the instruction concerning generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Mitsugu Matsutake, Kouichi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20110116726
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: an extraction section extracting a subject area having a predetermined feature in an image; a first calculation section calculating a first blur degree indicating a blur degree of the extracted subject area; a second calculation section calculating, when the number of subject areas from which the first blur degree is calculated is one, a second blur degree indicating a blur degree of the entire image based on the first blur degree, and calculating, when the number of subject areas from which the first blur degree is calculated is plural, the second blur degree based on a value obtained by performing weighted averaging on the plural first blur degrees in accordance with dimensions of the plural subject areas; and a sorting section sorting an image having the calculated second blur degree equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value, as a blur image, from plural images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi HOSAKA, Kosuke Kimura, Kuniichiro Naruse, Kazuma Igari, Sadamichi Bamba, Yukiko Akiyama, Mitsuo Okumura, Akira Kikuchi, Hidefumi Kashima
  • Patent number: 7905727
    Abstract: A keeper for an implant comprising a keeper body made of a soft-magnetic material, which has a recess for receiving an abutment head having an internally threaded hole, and an internally threaded hole extending along its center axis in communication with the recess, and a screw member threadably engageable with the internally threaded holes of the keeper body and the abutment, whereby the keeper body is tightly fastened to the abutment by tension exerted by the screw member threadably engaging the internally threaded holes of the keeper body and the abutment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7888894
    Abstract: An electric motor control system including a generator, an AC motor, a power converter for driving the AC motor using a DC output voltage of the generator, and an electric motor controller for controlling the power converter. The electric motor controller controls the power converter by predicting a change in the DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoshi Sugawara, Tetsuhiro Fujimoto, Yasuhiro Kiyofuji, Keizo Shimada, Akira Kikuchi, Kazuhiro Imaie