Patents by Inventor Akira Masuo

Akira Masuo 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: 20220299334
    Abstract: Provided are a recommendation information providing method and a recommendation information providing system. The recommendation information providing method provides a user of a vehicle with an activity experienceable after transportation by the vehicle, by using an information providing apparatus connected to an in-vehicle machine and house equipment via a network, and includes: acquiring first information transmitted from the in-vehicle machine mounted in the vehicle and second information transmitted from the house equipment provided in a house where the user resides; selecting, based on the first information and the second information, information on the activity experienceable after transportation by the vehicle, from among activities in an activity information database in which a plurality of pieces of information on the activity is registered; and providing equipment possessed by the user with the selected information on the activity as recommendation information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu TSUBOSAKA, Akira MASUO
  • Patent number: 11260874
    Abstract: An acquisition unit acquires at least one of first information and second information. A notification unit provides warning information to the driver, the warning information being generated based on at least one of the first information and the second information acquired and indicating a possibility of an increase in an insurance premium of an insurance applied to the driver. An reception unit receives acceptance of the provided warning information from the driver. A processor determines to transmit the acceptance by the driver of the possibility of an increase in the insurance premium to an insurance company server when the acceptance is received and determines to transmit at least one of the first information and the second information to the insurance company server when acceptance is not received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INIELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Masuo, Junichi Yukawa, Kenji Sugihara
  • Publication number: 20200410577
    Abstract: When the communication circuit receives, from the second electronic device, information indicating application to rent a vehicle by a given user and biological information on the given user, and when the biological information on the given user meets a first condition, the communication circuit outputs information to offer to lend a vehicle of the first rank. When the communication circuit receives, from the second electronic device, information indicating application to rent a vehicle by a given user and biological information on the given user, and when the biological information on the given user meets a second condition different from the first condition, the communication circuit outputs information to offer to lend a vehicle of the second rank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira MASUO, Junichi YUKAWA, Kenji SUGIHARA
  • Publication number: 20200391754
    Abstract: An acquisition unit acquires at least one of first information and second information. A notification unit provides warning information to the driver, the warning information being generated based on at least one of the first information and the second information acquired and indicating a possibility of an increase in an insurance premium of an insurance applied to the driver. An reception unit receives acceptance of the provided warning information from the driver. A processor determines to transmit the acceptance by the driver of the possibility of an increase in the insurance premium to an insurance company server when the acceptance is received and determines to transmit at least one of the first information and the second information to the insurance company server when acceptance is not received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira MASUO, Junichi YUKAWA, Kenji SUGIHARA
  • Publication number: 20200300655
    Abstract: A vehicle control circuit is mountable on a vehicle on which a driver rides. The vehicle control circuit is configured to: receive an input of a detection result of a state of the driver during driving from at least one sensor, the sensor being mounted on the vehicle and configured to detect the state; output recommendation data to a notification device mounted on the vehicle, the recommendation data relating to use of a product or service for improving the state of the driver during driving indicated by the detection result; perform settlement processing for the use of the corresponding product or service in accordance with an input from the driver in response to the recommendation data; and provide a route to a destination of the use of the product or service based on completion of the settlement processing via the notification device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira MASUO, Tetsuo MATSUSE
  • Patent number: 8208318
    Abstract: A system LSI (100) having a logic circuit (104) and a plurality of SRAM macros (103) includes a power supply circuit (102) configured to receive a voltage (VDDP) supplied from the outside of the system LSI (100), and to generate a stabilized voltage (VDDM) lower than the voltage (VDDP). An SRAM memory cell (103a) of each of the plurality of SRAM macros (103) is supplied with the voltage (VDDM) generated by the power supply circuit (102), and an SRAM logic circuit (103b) of each of the plurality of SRAM macros (103) is supplied with a voltage (VDD) supplied from the outside. In addition, the logic circuit (104) is supplied with the voltage (VDD) from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Agata, Noriaki Narumi, Yoshinobu Yamagami, Akira Masuo
  • Patent number: 8125820
    Abstract: A memory to which a bit line potential step-down technique is applied is provided. The memory includes an IO block including first transistors which control potentials of first bit lines provided with respect to columns of memory cells, and first logic gates which control the first transistors. The drain or source of each first transistor is connected to an input of the corresponding first logic gate, and the gate of each first transistor is connected to an output of the corresponding first logic gate. The first transistors are driven by pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Masuo, Yasuhiro Agata
  • Publication number: 20110267914
    Abstract: Characteristics of both a memory cell and a peripheral circuit are degraded due to random variations, and a defective characteristic occurs in a combination of components having a substantially worst characteristic at a macro level. To solve this problem, a selector is provided between the memory cell and the peripheral circuit so that a positive phase and a negative phase of bit lines are switched at a portion where the defective characteristic occurs. Alternatively, the combination of a bit line and a sense amplifier is switched between adjacent data input/output sections, for example. In other words, the defective characteristic is repaired or corrected by canceling the combination of worst components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi ISHIKURA, Norihiko Sumitani, Akira Masuo
  • Patent number: 8045389
    Abstract: A dummy cell array is provided in a memory cell array, and an intermediate buffer is provided between input/output circuits, whereby control signals to the input/output circuits can be operated at high speed and with a high frequency while the area increasing effect is reduced even in a memory with a large bit width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenari Kanehara, Yasuhiro Agata, Norihiko Sumitani, Akira Masuo
  • Publication number: 20110205827
    Abstract: A system LSI (100) having a logic circuit (104) and a plurality of SRAM macros (103) includes a power supply circuit (102) configured to receive a voltage (VDDP) supplied from the outside of the system LSI (100), and to generate a stabilized voltage (VDDM) lower than the voltage (VDDP). An SRAM memory cell (103a) of each of the plurality of SRAM macros (103) is supplied with the voltage (VDDM) generated by the power supply circuit (102), and an SRAM logic circuit (103b) of each of the plurality of SRAM macros (103) is supplied with a voltage (VDD) supplied from the outside. In addition, the logic circuit (104) is supplied with the voltage (VDD) from the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Agata, Noriaki Narumi, Yoshinobu Yamagami, Akira Masuo
  • Publication number: 20110063928
    Abstract: A dummy cell array is provided in a memory cell array, and an intermediate buffer is provided between input/output circuits, whereby control signals to the input/output circuits can be operated at high speed and with a high frequency while the area increasing effect is reduced even in a memory with a large bit width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hidenari KANEHARA, Yasuhiro Agata, Norihiko Sumitani, Akira Masuo
  • Patent number: 7885124
    Abstract: A precharge circuit steps up a voltage of a bit line connected to a memory cell to a power supply voltage. A plurality of step-down circuits step down the voltage of the bit line to a voltage level lower than the power supply voltage before data is read from the memory cell. The plurality of step-down circuits are connected to the bit line, and the plurality of step-down circuits are controlled by step-down control signals different to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Koike, Yuichirou Ikeda, Akira Masuo
  • Publication number: 20100328991
    Abstract: A memory to which a bit line potential step-down technique is applied is provided. The memory includes an IO block including first transistors which control potentials of first bit lines provided with respect to columns of memory cells, and first logic gates which control the first transistors. The drain or source of each first transistor is connected to an input of the corresponding first logic gate, and the gate of each first transistor is connected to an output of the corresponding first logic gate. The first transistors are driven by pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Masuo, Yasuhiro Agata
  • Patent number: 7697320
    Abstract: In a memory cell having a first and a second load transistor, a first and a second drive transistor, and a first and a second access transistor, a third access transistor provided between a first bit line and a first memory node and having a gate terminal connected to a first column line and a fourth access transistor provided between a second bit line and a second memory node and having a gate terminal connected to a second column line, are additionally provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Masuo, Norihiko Sumitani, Kazuki Tsujimura, Tsuyoshi Koike
  • Patent number: 7656197
    Abstract: The decoder circuit includes: a power supply control circuit for supplying a first voltage; first and second transistors connected in series between the power supply control circuit and a first reference node; and third and fourth transistors connected between a connection node between the first and second transistors and a second reference node. The first transistor receives a first signal at its gate, and the second transistor receives a second signal corresponding to the first signal at its gate. The third transistor receives a third signal at its gate, and the fourth transistor receives a fourth signal corresponding to the third signal at its gate. The potential difference between the first voltage and the first reference node is smaller than the potential difference between the first reference node and the second reference node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Masuo, Norihiko Sumitani, Shigeo Houmura
  • Patent number: 7589991
    Abstract: A storage node voltage control circuit is added to a memory cell including two load transistors, two drive transistors and two access transistors. The storage node voltage control circuit performs control so that in writing data into the memory cell, a voltage at one of the two storage nodes holding a low logic level is raised without changing voltages at respective sources of the load transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Masuo
  • Publication number: 20090108876
    Abstract: The decoder circuit includes: a power supply control circuit for supplying a first voltage; first and second transistors connected in series between the power supply control circuit and a first reference node; and third and fourth transistors connected between a connection node between the first and second transistors and a second reference node. The first transistor receives a first signal at its gate, and the second transistor receives a second signal corresponding to the first signal at its gate. The third transistor receives a third signal at its gate, and the fourth transistor receives a fourth signal corresponding to the third signal at its gate. The potential difference between the first voltage and the first reference node is smaller than the potential difference between the first reference node and the second reference node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Masuo, Norihiko Sumitani, Shigeo Houmura
  • Publication number: 20090067265
    Abstract: A precharge circuit steps up a voltage of a bit line connected to a memory cell to a power supply voltage. A plurality of step-down circuits step down the voltage of the bit line to a voltage level lower than the power supply voltage before data is read from the memory cell. The plurality of step-down circuits are connected to the bit line, and the plurality of step-down circuits are controlled by step-down control signals different to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Koike, Yuichirou Ikeda, Akira Masuo
  • Patent number: 7486113
    Abstract: The decoder circuit includes: a power supply control circuit for supplying a first voltage; first and second transistors connected in series between the power supply control circuit and a first reference node; and third and fourth transistors connected between a connection node between the first and second transistors and a second reference node. The first transistor receives a first signal at its gate, and the second transistor receives a second signal corresponding to the first signal at its gate. The third transistor receives a third signal at its gate, and the fourth transistor receives a fourth signal corresponding to the third signal at its gate. The potential difference between the first voltage and the first reference node is smaller than the potential difference between the first reference node and the second reference node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Masuo, Norihiko Sumitani, Shigeo Houmura
  • Patent number: 7482840
    Abstract: The semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a first transistor of a first conductivity type connected between a first power supply and an output node and turned ON according to a first clock to put the output node to a first logic level; a second transistor of a second conductivity type turned ON according to an input signal; a third transistor of the second conductivity type connected in series to the second transistor and turned ON according to a second clock; and a fourth transistor of the first conductivity type connected between the first power supply and the output node and turned ON according to a feedback signal. The second and third transistors are connected between the output node and a second power supply. The fourth transistor is turned from ON to OFF after both the second and third transistors are turned ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Masuo, Norihiko Sumitani