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).
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Publication number: 20220206723Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2021Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Isao FUKUCHI, Akira MINAMI, Keisuke NISHIHARA
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Publication number: 20220203707Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2021Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Akira MINAMI, Keisuke NISHIHARA, Isao FUKUCHI
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Publication number: 20220203743Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2021Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Akira MINAMI, Keisuke NISHIHARA
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Publication number: 20220203701Abstract: A medium includes: a heat-sensitive medium subjected to thermal printing; and an adhesive medium to be superimposed on the heat-sensitive medium in a thickness direction and bonded to the heat-sensitive medium. The heat-sensitive medium includes: a surface contacting the adhesive medium; a heat-sensitive medium base material having a transparency; and a first color producing layer having a transparency. The heat-sensitive medium base material has an uneven shape having roughness greater than that of the surface of the heat-sensitive medium. The first color producing layer is configured to produce a first color when heated to a temperature higher than or equal to a first temperature. The adhesive medium includes: an adhesive medium base material; and an adhesive layer provided on the adhesive medium base material. The adhesive layer makes contact with the surface of the heat-sensitive medium so that the adhesive medium is bonded to the heat-sensitive medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2021Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Yuki NARUSE, Keisuke NISHIHARA, Akira MINAMI
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Patent number: 11279160Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including: a head including M of heating elements arranged in a first direction; a memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to: measure first particular values indicating characteristics of N of heating elements and save the first particular values in the memory; measure second particular values indicating characteristics of the N of heating elements and save the second particular values in the memory; determine difference values between the first particular values and the second particular values; determine a characteristic value based on the difference values; and detect replacement of the head when the controller has determined that the characteristic value exceeds a predefined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akira Minami
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Publication number: 20210008909Abstract: A cartridge includes: a cartridge case; a first supply portion including a heat-sensitive medium; and a second supply portion including an adhesive medium. The heat-sensitive medium includes a base material, a plurality of heat-sensitive layers, and at least one heat-insulating layer in a stacked state. The heat-sensitive layers include: a first heat-sensitive layer for producing a first color when heated above a first temperature; and a second heat-sensitive layer for producing a second color when heated above a second temperature higher than. the first temperature. The cartridge case includes: an opening for exposing the heat-sensitive medium; and a guide part positioned downstream of the opening in a conveying direction of the heat-sensitive medium for guiding the heat-sensitive medium and the adhesive medium bonded to a surface of the heat-sensitive medium opposite the base material with respect to the plurality of heat-sensitive layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Kohei Terada, Keisuke Nishihara, Akira Minami, Tomoaki Hazeyama, Yasuhiro Torii, Mariko Niizeki
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Publication number: 20200307290Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including: a head including M of heating elements arranged in a first direction; a memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to: measure first particular values indicating characteristics of N of heating elements and save the first particular values in the memory; measure second particular values indicating characteristics of the N of heating elements and save the second particular values in the memory; determine difference values between the first particular values and the second particular values; determine a characteristic value based on the difference values; and detect replacement of the head when the controller has determined that the characteristic value exceeds a predefined threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Inventor: Akira MINAMI
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Patent number: 10744790Abstract: In a printing device, a thermal head has heating elements and prints an image made up of line images. A memory stores sets of parameters, each set including one of first parameters and corresponding one of second parameters. The controller calculates an average consumed power with respect to a line image subject to calculation by dividing a total amount of consumed power by a period of time set in each first parameter, thereby providing average consumed powers for the sets of parameters. The total amount of consumed power is an accumulated consumed power consumed in the heating elements energized during printing in the period of time including a print timing of the line image subject to calculation. The controller sets a cycle time for printing the line image subject to calculation so that each average consumed power does not exceed an upper limit specified by corresponding one of second parameters.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2019Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Akira Minami, Tomohiro Kondo
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Publication number: 20190351681Abstract: In a printing device, a thermal head has heating elements and prints an image made up of line images. A memory stores sets of parameters, each set including one of first parameters and corresponding one of second parameters. The controller calculates an average consumed power with respect to a line image subject to calculation by dividing a total amount of consumed power by a period of time set in each first parameter, thereby providing average consumed powers for the sets of parameters. The total amount of consumed power is an accumulated consumed power consumed in the heating elements energized during printing in the period of time including a print timing of the line image subject to calculation. The controller sets a cycle time for printing the line image subject to calculation so that each average consumed power does not exceed an upper limit specified by corresponding one of second parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2019Publication date: November 21, 2019Inventors: Akira Minami, Tomohiro Kondo
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Patent number: 10189274Abstract: A printer includes a controller configured to, while conveying a print medium, apply a fourth quantity of thermal energy per unit area to a first area of the print medium and apply a fifth quantity of thermal energy per unit area to a second area that at least partially overlaps the first area in a conveyance direction, the print medium developing a color when supplied with a quantity of thermal energy per unit area equal to or more than a first quantity and equal to or less than a second quantity and developing another color when supplied with a quantity of thermal energy per unit area equal to or more than a third quantity more than the second quantity, the fourth and fifth quantities being more than the first quantity and less than the second quantity, a sum of the fourth and fifth quantities being less than the third quantity.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2017Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Sachiko Murakami, Akira Minami, Satoru Ito
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Patent number: 10183499Abstract: A printer includes a controller configured to, based on print data, perform acquiring a condition value, calculating, for each type of dots, an additional period of time an=(Tn+Xn)?(Tn-1Xn-1), where Tn represents a specified period of time for applying energy to a heating element to form an n-th type of dot, Xn represents a correction period of time that is added to the specified period of time Tn to correct a dot formation condition of the n-th type of dot in accordance with the condition value, a heating period of time An for forming the n-th type of dot is obtained by adding the correction period of time Xn to the specified period of time Tn, and is derived from adding the additional period of time an to a heating period of time An-1, and setting the heating period of time An=?k=1nak, for each dot included in a target line.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akira Minami
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Publication number: 20180178547Abstract: A printer includes a controller configured to, while conveying a print medium, apply a fourth quantity of thermal energy per unit area to a first area of the print medium and apply a fifth quantity of thermal energy per unit area to a second area that at least partially overlaps the first area in a conveyance direction, the print medium developing a color when supplied with a quantity of thermal energy per unit area equal to or more than a first quantity and equal to or less than a second quantity and developing another color when supplied with a quantity of thermal energy per unit area equal to or more than a third quantity more than the second quantity, the fourth and fifth quantities being more than the first quantity and less than the second quantity, a sum of the fourth and fifth quantities being less than the third quantity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2017Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Sachiko Murakami, Akira Minami, Satoru Ito
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Publication number: 20180088874Abstract: A printer includes a controller configured to, based on print data, perform acquiring a condition value, calculating, for each type of dots, an additional period of time an=(Tn+Xn)?(Tn-1Xn-1), where Tn represents a specified period of time for applying energy to a heating element to form an n-th type of dot, Xn represents a correction period of time that is added to the specified period of time Tn to correct a dot formation condition of the n-th type of dot in accordance with the condition value, a heating period of time An for forming the n-th type of dot is obtained by adding the correction period of time Xn to the specified period of time Tn, and is derived from adding the additional period of time an to a heating period of time An-1, and setting the heating period of time An=?k=1nak, for each dot included in a target line.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventor: Akira MINAMI
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Patent number: 9612485Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display apparatus includes: applying a first sealing material along both sides in a row direction of array substrate areas on a first mother board including a plurality of the array substrate areas formed in a matrix pattern, applying a second sealing material along both sides in a column direction of counter substrate areas on a second mother board including a plurality of the counter substrate areas formed in a matrix pattern, filling the first mother board with a liquid crystal material; and adhering the first mother board and the second mother board to each other.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2014Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Kenji Saito, Akira Minami, Mariko Nagai, Yoshinori Yamamoto
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Patent number: 9459497Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates and guide patterns provided at a periphery of one substrate of the pair of substrates. The guide patterns include a first projection, a second projection on the first projection, a pair of third projections provided on each side of the first and second projections, and a pair of fourth projections formed on the pair of third projections respectively. A seal material is provided on the guide patterns and covering at least one of the first projection and the second projection, and a liquid crystal layer is provided in an area partitioned by the pair of substrates and the seal material.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2012Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.Inventors: Masato Ishikawa, Akira Minami, Kenji Saito
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Publication number: 20150273858Abstract: Every print line lined up to the number of “preset line number 1”, the dot number that the main pulse MP is added is counted, and when the variable number M which is the most count number is larger than the variable number A, the value of variable number M/variable number A is set to the variable number of “divisional number” and “9” is set to the variable number of “target speed”. When the variable number M corresponding to the most count number is not larger than the variable number A, the dot number that the supplemental pulse HP is added is counted every print line lined up to the number of “preset line number 1” and when the variable number S corresponding to the most count number is larger than the variable number A, “0” is set to the variable number of “divisional number” and “24” is set to the variable number of “target speed”.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Inventor: Akira Minami
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Patent number: 9132662Abstract: Every print line lined up to the number of “preset line number 1”, the dot number that the main pulse MP is added is counted, and when the variable number M which is the most count number is larger than the variable number A, the value of variable number M/variable number A is set to the variable number of “divisional number” and “9” is set to the variable number of “target speed”. When the variable number M corresponding to the most count number is not larger than the variable number A, the dot number that the supplemental pulse HP is added is counted every print line lined up to the number of “preset line number 1” and when the variable number S corresponding to the most count number is larger than the variable number A, “0” is set to the variable number of “divisional number” and “24” is set to the variable number of “target speed”.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2014Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akira Minami
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Publication number: 20150160487Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display apparatus includes: applying a first sealing material along both sides in a row direction of array substrate areas on a first mother board including a plurality of the array substrate areas formed in a matrix pattern, applying a second sealing material along both sides in a column direction of counter substrate areas on a second mother board including a plurality of the counter substrate areas formed in a matrix pattern, filling the first mother board with a liquid crystal material; and adhering the first mother board and the second mother board to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: Japan Display Inc.Inventors: Kenji SAITO, Akira MINAMI, Mariko NAGAI, Yoshinori YAMAMOTO
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Patent number: 8508706Abstract: In one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and second substrate opposing the first substrate. A seal material is formed on the first substrate to attach the first substrate and second substrate with a predetermined cell gap therebetween. The seal material is formed in an approximately rectangular closed loop shape having four straight line portions. The straight line portion includes an expanded portion in which the width of one of the straight line portions is locally expanded. A barrier is arranged between the location where the expanded portion is formed and one end of the first substrate.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2011Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Japan Display Central Inc.Inventor: Akira Minami
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Publication number: 20130182213Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device includes a step of forming guide patterns with a pair of frame-like projections configured to allow a seal material to be coated on one substrate of a pair of substrates in a frame form.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2012Publication date: July 18, 2013Inventors: Masato ISHIKAWA, Akira Minami, Kenji Saito