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: 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
  • Publication number: 20100256848
    Abstract: A drive assist device for a diesel-electric driven truck is provided to guide and assist a driver in starting to coast so that appropriate coasting deceleration suitable for load weight is realized. The drive assist device includes a course information database that stores information about a course, a truck body information database that stores information about the truck body, a current location determination unit that calculates current location information, a coast initiation timing calculation unit that calculates timing of coasting based on a current location and velocity of the truck and a target velocity at a predetermined point ahead of the truck, those of which being obtained from the databases and input information, the timing of coasting being used to achieve the target velocity at the predetermined point and a guidance unit that informs a truck driver of the timing of coasting according to an output of the calculation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Masataka SASAKI, Akira Kikuchi, Motoo Futami, Kichio Nakajima, Tomohiko Yasuda
  • Publication number: 20100246045
    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: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Hisato Shibata, Hideaki Takahoshi, Yuki Yoshida, Akira Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20100238007
    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: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Akira KIKUCHI, Motoo Futami, Toshikazu Minoshima, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takayuki Sato, Kichio Nakajima
  • Publication number: 20100038908
    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: October 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Mitsugu Matsutake, Kouichi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20100007988
    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: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventors: Satoshi Igarashi, Tohru Horie, Ryo Kurita, Isatake Kaitsu, Akira Kikuchi, Shinya Sato
  • Patent number: 7615880
    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 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Mitsugu Matsutake, Kouichi Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20090242294
    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 wheels 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: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Keizo Shimada, Kichio Nakajima, Toshikazu Minoshima, Tomohiko Yasuda, Takashi Ikimi
  • Publication number: 20090242389
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium including a nonmagnetic substrate, an intermediate layer over the nonmagnetic substrate, and a granular magnetic layer for recording information, disposed on the intermediate layer. The method includes sputtering a Co alloy, a Ti oxide, a Si oxide and a Co oxide simultaneously to form the granular magnetic layer containing Co alloy magnetic particles and an oxide magnetically separating the magnetic particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Noriyuki Asakura, Hideaki Takahoshi, Jun Taguchi, Isatake Kaitsu, Akira Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7583036
    Abstract: In an electrically driven vehicle having a controller, the vehicle has a steering angle sensor for outputting a detected value of a steering angle of the vehicle, the controller includes a first torque order pattern along which a torque order for a first electric motor is determined and a second torque order pattern along which a torque order for a second electric motor is determined, and the first and second torque order pattern are modified on the basis of the detected value of the steering angle so that the torque order determined along the second torque order pattern is greater than the torque order determined along the first torque order pattern under the identical velocity when the vehicle turns to the left, and the torque order determined along the first torque order pattern is greater than the torque order determined along the second torque order pattern under the identical velocity when the vehicle turns to the right.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Takashi Ikimi, Keizo Shimada, Naoshi Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20090183985
    Abstract: One aspect of the embodiments utilizes, according to an aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium, which includes an intermediate layer and a granular magnetic layer as a recording layer sequentially formed on a non-magnetic substrate, includes the steps of forming the intermediate layer and forming the granular magnetic layer. The granular magnetic layer includes a plurality of magnetic particles made of a Co alloy and an oxide magnetically separating the plurality of magnetic particles by a sputtering method using a target. The target includes a Co alloy, one or more first oxides selected from a group of oxides of Si, Ti, Ta, Cr, W, and Nb, and a second oxide composed of a Co oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuki YOSHIDA, Hideaki TAKAHOSHI, Shinya SATO, Isatake KAITSU, Akira KIKUCHI, Jun TAGUCHI, Ryo KURITA
  • Publication number: 20090142624
    Abstract: A method of producing a magnetic recording medium produces a medium having a magnetic recording layer disposed above a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, The nonmagnetic intermediate layer is formed by a sputtering using a target made of an oxide material. Oxygen gas or carbon dioxide gas is supplied during the sputtering in order to suppress a state where an oxygen supply becomes insufficient due to separation of oxygen atoms from the oxide material at a time of plasma generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hideaki TAKAHOSHI, Hisato Shibata, Shinya Sato, Isatake Kaitsu, Akira Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20090117520
    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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventor: Akira KIKUCHI
  • Publication number: 20090110961
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium used for a hard disc drive and the like, a method of manufacturing the same, and a magnetic storage device. The magnetic recording medium that includes a substrate, a first ferromagnetic layer formed on the substrate, a non-magnetic layer formed on the first ferromagnetic layer and including a ferromagnetic element and a second ferromagnetic layer formed on the non-magnetic layer, wherein the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer are magnetically coupled through the non-magnetic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hisato Shibata, Hideaki Takahoshi, Shinya Sato, Isatake Kaitsu, Akira Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20090109579
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium has a substrate, a first granular layer formed on the substrate, the first granular layer having a plurality of a first magnetic grains and a first oxide for separating the plurality of first magnetic grains from one another. A non-magnetic layer is formed on the first granular layer. The second granular layer is formed on the non-magnetic layer which has a plurality of second magnetic grains and a second oxide for separating the plurality of second magnetic grains from one another. The anisotropic magnetic field of the first granular layer is more intensive than that of the second granular layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Hideaki Takahoshi, Hisato Shibata, Shinya Sato, Isatake Kaitsu, Akira Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20080291578
    Abstract: This perpendicular magnetic recording medium has a nonmagnetic substrate and a magnetic recording structure formed above the substrate. The magnetic recording structure has at least a soft magnetic underlayer, an intermediate layer and a magnetic layer. The substrate has a surface profile curve whose angle of inclination is 2.0 degree or less, or whose surface roughness of the substrate, with cycle (wavelength components) in the ranges of 83 nm or less to 30 nm or less, is 0.15 nm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Masaru Ono, Yuki Yoshida, Kiyoshi Yamaguchi, Akira Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20080292909
    Abstract: This magnetic recording medium has a substrate, a nonmagnetic granular layer formed above the substrate and a recording layer formed on the nonmagnetic granular layer. The nonmagnetic granular layer is made of CoCr alloy with an hcp or an fcc crystal structure in which a nonmagnetic material segregates virtually-columnar magnetic grains. The magnetic recording medium and the magnetic storage apparatus in which the medium is used have improved reading/writing performances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Satoshi Igarashi, Akira Kikuchi, Isatake Kaitsu, Ryosaku Inamura, Kenji Sato, Shinya Sato, Hideaki Takahoshi, Atsushi Endo, Hisato Shibata
  • Publication number: 20080285177
    Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, and a first granular layer formed over the substrate, the first granular layer having a plurality of first magnetic particles and Si oxide separating the plurality of first magnetic particles. The magnetic recording medium further includes a second granular layer formed over the first granular layer, the second granular layer having a plurality of second magnetic particles and Ti oxide separating the plurality of second magnetic particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Ryosaku Inamura, Isatake Kaitsu, Takuya Uzumaki, Iwao OKamoto, Akira Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 7448993
    Abstract: A gastrointestinal tract examining apparatus includes a capsular endoscope which examines the gastrointestinal tract, a flexible tube member, a flexible string member which is inserted in the tube member, and a connecting portion which is arranged to the capsular endoscope. In the gastrointestinal tract examining apparatus, the tube member is separated from the capsular endoscope by detachably connecting the string member to the connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Yokoi, Hironobu Takizawa, Hidetake Segawa, Akira Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20080242928
    Abstract: This in vivo observation device is equipped with a capsular casing that is taken orally into the body, and an observation device provided within said casing which observes the inside of the body through an observation wall surface of said casing; and, is provided with a contact auxiliary device that causes the observation wall surface to closely contact to body tissue during observation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironao Kawano, Akio Uchiyama, Hironobu Takizawa, Akira Kikuchi