Patents by Inventor Akira Minami

Akira Minami 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: 11975550
    Abstract: A printing device includes: a thermal head; and a processor. The thermal head includes a heating element. The processor is configured to perform: (a) creating; and (b) driving. The (a) creating creates print data based on image data representing an image to be printed on a printing medium. The (b) driving drives the heating element to apply heat to the printing medium according to the print data. The processor is configured to further perform: (c) determining. The (c) determining determines whether to create a plurality of labels for lamination using at least one printing medium including a first printing medium. The first printing medium is transparent and includes a plurality of heat-sensitive layers laminated together. Each of the plurality of heat-sensitive layers is configured to develop a different color when heat is applied from the heating element. The (c) creating is performed in accordance with a determination result in (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Minami, Keisuke Nishihara, Isao Fukuchi
  • Publication number: 20240101845
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a coated body comprising a decorative layer having excellent visibility and gradation characteristics and a wide color reproduction region, and more particularly, to a coated body comprising a substrate and a decorative layer, in which the decorative layer is formed from an ink set comprising at least a cyan ink, a magenta ink, and a yellow ink, and all of Ch, Mh, and Yh are 10% or more, in which Ch, Mh, and Yh are contrast ratios (%) of dried films having a thickness of 10 ?m formed from the cyan ink, the magenta ink, and the yellow ink, respectively, and all of the following Relational Expressions (1) to (3) are satisfied: 0?|Ch?Mh|?25%;??Expression (1) 0?|Mh?Yh|?25%; and??Expression (2) 0?|Yh?Ch|?25%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: DAI NIPPON TORYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke TAKAOKA, Hiroki KAWASAKI, Akira SUETSUGU, Yasuhiro ANZAI, Kazuo MINAMI
  • Publication number: 20230408963
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus records an image on a recording medium including a first layer developing a first color when exceeding a first temperature, a second layer developing a second color when exceeding a second temperature, and a third layer developing a third color when exceeding a third temperature. The image forming apparatus includes a head applying energy to the recording medium from the first layer side and a control device configured to control the energy to be applied to the recording medium by the head so as to form an image of a mixed color of the first color, the second color, and the third color on the recording medium by controlling the head to apply the energy to the recording medium to develop the first color on the recording medium after developing the second color or the third color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Isao Fukuchi, Akira Minami, Keisuke Nishihara
  • Publication number: 20230398790
    Abstract: A printer performs printing on a thermosensitive medium including a plurality of color developing layers including a first layer developing a first color and a second layer developing a second color. The printer includes a head and a control device performing a printing control including outputting a signal pattern based on post-conversion image data converted from pre-conversion image data to cause a plurality of heat generation elements of the head to selectively generate heat while controlling conveyance of the thermosensitive medium. In the converting, when target dots containing the second color is included in the plurality of dots in the pre-conversion image data, the control device converts a color of conversion dots to a conversion color containing the color developed by any one of the plurality of color developing layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Akira Minami, Keisuke Nishihara
  • Publication number: 20230398792
    Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a thermal head in which a plurality of heating elements is arranged in a main scanning direction, a moving mechanism configured to relatively move a print medium with respect to the thermal head in a sub-scanning direction crossing the main scanning direction, a controller configured to control the thermal head and the moving mechanism, and a storage unit configured to store first print data in which pixels are arranged in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, the pixels including print pixels indicating pixels with which corresponding dots are formed on the print medium by heat generated by the heating elements and non-print pixels with which no dot is formed on the print medium, the first print data being for printing a first print image represented by the print pixels. The controller executes generation processing and control processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Sachiko Murakami, Akira Minami
  • Publication number: 20230398791
    Abstract: A printer includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a heat sensitive medium in a conveyance direction, a thermal head including a plurality of heat generating elements arranged in a direction crossing the conveyance direction, and configured to perform printing on the heat sensitive medium conveyed by the conveyance unit by heat generation of the plurality of heat generating elements, a controller configured to selectively cause the plurality of heat generating elements to generate heat by performing application control of energy to the heat generating element so as to print a dot on the heat sensitive medium by the heat generating elements, and a storage unit configured to store three or more heating patterns of the heat generating elements in the application control. The controller includes a first output unit and a second output unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventor: Akira Minami
  • Patent number: 11829822
    Abstract: A print data editing device is configured to perform: editing print data such that when dots constituting an input image represented by the print data are compared by units of columns before and after the editing, a coincidence is maximized when an image of each column in the input image after the editing is the same position as an image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing or is shifted by a corresponding shift amount in a sub-scanning direction relative to the image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing. An absolute value of at least one of shift amounts for columns in the input image after the editing is one dot or greater. An absolute difference value for any two neighboring columns in a main scanning direction in the input image after the editing is one dot or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Naruse, Isao Fukuchi, Mina Takechi, Akira Minami, Kohei Terada
  • Patent number: 11809927
    Abstract: A print data editing device performs editing print data such that when dots constituting an input image represented by the print data are compared by units of columns before and after performing the editing, a coincidence is maximized when an image of each column in the input image after the editing is the same position as an image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing or is shifted by a corresponding shift amount relative to the image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing and an editing condition is met. The editing condition includes that an absolute value of at least one shift amount is one dot or greater, an absolute difference value for any two neighboring columns is one dot or less, and at least one absolute difference value for all possible combinations of two columns is less than one dot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Naruse, Isao Fukuchi, Mina Takechi, Akira Minami, Kohei Terada
  • Publication number: 20230347661
    Abstract: A printer includes a thermal head including a plurality of heat generating elements configured to apply energy to a recording medium, and a controller configured to perform control of periodically supplying the power to the plurality of heat generating elements. The recording medium includes a first color developing portion configured to develop a first color and a second color developing portion configured to develop a second color. The controller is configured to periodically supply the power to the plurality of heat generating elements, set an average cycle for supplying the power to a first average cycle, in a case of causing the first color developing portion to develop the first color, and set an average cycle for supplying the power to a second average cycle longer than the first average cycle, in a case of causing the second color developing portion to develop the second color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Isao Fukuchi, Akira Minami, Keisuke Nishihara
  • Publication number: 20230347659
    Abstract: A CPU of a printing apparatus energizes heat-generating elements for a predetermined period of time in a first divided printing cycle of two divided printing cycles obtained by dividing one printing cycle, according to a yellow energization pattern, and forms a first yellow print dot without causing a heat-sensitive tape to develop another color. Then, the CPU energizes the heat-generating elements for a predetermined period of time in a second divided printing cycle of the two divided printing cycles, and forms a second yellow print dot on the heat-sensitive tape. By forming two print dots in one printing cycle, the CPU secures a large color reproduction range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Keisuke Nishihara, Akira Minami
  • Publication number: 20230347660
    Abstract: When a CPU of a printing apparatus generates a red energization pattern for causing a print medium to develop a color, the CPU generates a subtraction pattern obtained by subtracting a portion of an amount of energy from a magenta energization pattern. The CPU calculates a logical sum of a yellow energization pattern and the subtraction pattern, to generate the red energization pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Keisuke Nishihara, Akira Minami
  • Patent number: 11787206
    Abstract: A medium includes: a heat-sensitive medium and an adhesive medium laminated over the heat-sensitive medium in a thickness direction thereof. The heat-sensitive medium includes a base material and a first heat-sensitive layer configured to produce a first color when heated above a first temperature. The first heat-sensitive layer is positioned between the base material and the adhesive medium in the thickness direction. The adhesive medium includes an adhesive-medium base material and an adhesive layer provided at the adhesive-medium base material. The adhesive medium defines a width greater than a width of the heat-sensitive medium in a width direction thereof crossing the thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Nishihara, Akira Minami
  • Patent number: 11790201
    Abstract: In a print data editing device, controller is configured to perform: editing; and converting. The editing edits print data representing an input image such that when sub-dots constituting the input image are compared by units of columns before and after performing the editing, a coincidence is maximized when an image of each column in the input image after the editing is the same position as an image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing or is shifted by a corresponding shift amount in a sub-scanning direction relative to the image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing. The converting includes: determining one or more sub-dot as a conversion sub-dot; and editing the print data such that the print data indicates OFF for the one or more sub-dots determined as the conversion sub-dot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mina Takechi, Yuki Naruse, Isao Fukuchi, Akira Minami, Kohei Terada
  • Patent number: 11714583
    Abstract: A print data generating device is configured to generate print data for creating a printed medium by printing a target image on a heat-sensitive medium with a printing device. The printing device includes a thermal head having a heating element. The heat-sensitive medium includes: a base material; and a heat-sensitive layer. The base material has a transparency. The heat-sensitive layer is provided over one surface of the base material and is configured to develop a first color when heated to a first temperature or higher. The printing device is configured to control the heating element according to the print data to heat the heat-sensitive medium. The print data generating device includes a controller. The controller is configured to perform: (a) determining a condition of a background area on which the heat-sensitive medium is to be superimposed; and (b) generating the print data in accordance with the condition determined in (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao Fukuchi, Akira Minami, Keisuke Nishihara
  • Publication number: 20230233437
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel elastin production promoter. The elastin production promoter contains sialidase as an active ingredient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicants: SHIZUOKA PREFECTURAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION, NIKKEN FOODS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Minami, Takashi Suzuki, Yasunori Iwao
  • Patent number: 11654707
    Abstract: A printing device is configured to print a multi-layer thermal printing medium. The printing device includes a thermal head and a controller. The thermal head has a heat generating elements configured to form images on a heat sensitive multi-layer. The controller is configured to perform detecting whether a viewing direction of the heat sensitive multi-layer is a thickness direction to view from a second surface toward a first surface or a direction opposite the thickness direction to view from the first surface toward the second surface. The controller is configured to further perform creating print data to be applied to each of the heat generating elements. The created print data is such that color development states of a first color and a second color according to the detected viewing direction are differentiated from color development states of the first color and the second color according to an undetected viewing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Minami, Keisuke Nishihara
  • Publication number: 20230142756
    Abstract: A print data editing device is configured to perform: editing print data such that when dots constituting an input image represented by the print data are compared by units of columns before and after the editing, a coincidence is maximized when an image of each column in the input image after the editing is the same position as an image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing or is shifted by a corresponding shift amount in a sub-scanning direction relative to the image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing. An absolute value of at least one of shift amounts for columns in the input image after the editing is one dot or greater. An absolute difference value for any two neighboring columns in a main scanning direction in the input image after the editing is one dot or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Yuki NARUSE, Isao FUKUCHI, Mina TAKECHI, Akira MINAMI, Kohei TERADA
  • Publication number: 20230148298
    Abstract: In a print data editing device, controller is configured to perform: editing; and converting. The editing edits print data representing an input image such that when sub-dots constituting the input image are compared by units of columns before and after performing the editing, a coincidence is maximized when an image of each column in the input image after the editing is the same position as an image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing or is shifted by a corresponding shift amount in a sub-scanning direction relative to the image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing. The converting includes: determining one or more sub-dot as a conversion sub-dot; and editing the print data such that the print data indicates OFF for the one or more sub-dots determined as the conversion sub-dot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Mina TAKECHI, Yuki NARUSE, Isao FUKUCHI, Akira MINAMI, Kohei TERADA
  • Publication number: 20230146630
    Abstract: A print data editing device performs editing print data such that when dots constituting an input image represented by the print data are compared by units of columns before and after performing the editing, a coincidence is maximized when an image of each column in the input image after the editing is the same position as an image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing or is shifted by a corresponding shift amount relative to the image of the corresponding column in the input image before the editing and an editing condition is met. The editing condition includes that an absolute value of at least one shift amount is one dot or greater, an absolute difference value for any two neighboring columns is one dot or less, and at least one absolute difference value for all possible combinations of two columns is less than one dot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Yuki NARUSE, Isao FUKUCHI, Mina TAKECHI, Akira MINAMI, Kohei TERADA
  • Publication number: 20220203726
    Abstract: A medium includes: a heat-sensitive medium and an adhesive medium laminated over the heat-sensitive medium in a thickness direction thereof. The heat-sensitive medium includes a base material and a first heat-sensitive layer configured to produce a first color when heated above a first temperature. The first heat-sensitive layer is positioned between the base material and the adhesive medium in the thickness direction. The adhesive medium includes an adhesive-medium base material and an adhesive layer provided at the adhesive-medium base material. The adhesive medium defines a width greater than a width of the heat-sensitive medium in a width direction thereof crossing the thickness direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Keisuke NISHIHARA, Akira MINAMI