Patents by Inventor Akira Takaoka

Akira Takaoka 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: 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: 20230212798
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a nonwoven fabric that makes it difficult to diffuse liquid in a plane direction and can absorb and transmit liquid in a spot manner, that is, a nonwoven fabric excellent in so-called spot absorbability. The nonwoven fabric according to the present invention is formed by mixing an artificial protein fiber and a hydrophobic synthetic fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicants: Shinwa Corp., Spiber Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Takaoka, Nozomi Ando, Kyota Fukui, Akihiko Ozeki
  • Patent number: 11463024
    Abstract: A power generation device is provided. A weight may vibrate in one direction as an axial direction in response to an external vibration. A beam may be arranged in at least one side with respect to the weight in the axial direction of the weight, and vibrate together with the weight. A piezoelectric element may be mounted on the beam. A guide may include a hollow guiding a movement of the weight in the axial direction. A stopper may be included in the weight. The stopper may restrict an amount of the movement of the weight in the axial direction within a predetermined amount. A stopper wall may stop the movement of the weight in the axial direction by contacting with the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yoichiro Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takatoshi Sekizawa, Hiroki Kuwano
  • Patent number: 10605780
    Abstract: In order to detect a road surface condition, a road surface condition estimation device extracts a detection signal of a portion that detects vibration in a tire tangential direction in a vibration detection and power generation unit which is in a ground contact section, for example, a vibration power generation element. In this case, it is identified that the vibration detection and power generation unit is in the ground contact section, based on whether a centrifugal force acting on the vibration detection and power generation unit is generated, or not, and it is identified that a time when no centrifugal force is generated is in the ground contact section. As a result, even if a pulse level of an output voltage of the vibration detection generation unit changes according to a traveling speed of the vehicle, the ground contact section can be accurately identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 10597009
    Abstract: A road surface condition estimation device extracts a detection signal of a vibration power generation element during a ground contact section to detect a road surface condition. A threshold used for determination of the ground contact section is variable according to a traveling speed of a vehicle. As a result, even if a pulse level of an output voltage of the vibration power generation element changes according to the traveling speed of the vehicle, the threshold corresponding to the change can be set. The ground contact section is determined with the use of the above thresholds, thereby being capable of performing the determination with high accuracy. Therefore, the road surface condition can be detected with high accuracy based on the ground contact section determined with high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 10471959
    Abstract: A vehicle control device including a tire-side device and a vehicle-side device is provided. The tire-side device includes a vibration detection unit that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a magnitude of vibration of a tire, a signal processing unit that generates ? data representing a friction coefficient between the tire and a road surface by processing the detection signal, and a transmitter that transmits the ? data. The vehicle-side device includes a receiver that receives the ? data and a travel control unit that estimates the friction coefficient based on the ? data, acquires a braking distance of the vehicle based on the friction coefficient, and controls acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle based on the braking distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Publication number: 20190280627
    Abstract: A power generation device is provided. A weight may vibrate in one direction as an axial direction in response to an external vibration. A beam may be arranged in at least one side with respect to the weight in the axial direction of the weight, and vibrate together with the weight. A piezoelectric element may be mounted on the beam. A guide may include a hollow guiding a movement of the weight in the axial direction. A stopper may be included in the weight. The stopper may restrict an amount of the movement of the weight in the axial direction within a predetermined amount. A stopper wall may stop the movement of the weight in the axial direction by contacting with the stopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Yoichiro SUZUKI, Akira TAKAOKA, Takatoshi SEKIZAWA, Hiroki KUWANO
  • Publication number: 20180364197
    Abstract: In order to detect a road surface condition, a road surface condition estimation device extracts a detection signal of a portion that detects vibration in a tire tangential direction in a vibration detection and power generation unit which is in a ground contact section, for example, a vibration power generation element. In this case, it is identified that the vibration detection and power generation unit is in the ground contact section, based on whether a centrifugal force acting on the vibration detection and power generation unit is generated, or not, and it is identified that a time when no centrifugal force is generated is in the ground contact section. As a result, even if a pulse level of an output voltage of the vibration detection generation unit changes according to a traveling speed of the vehicle, the ground contact section can be accurately identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Youichirou SUZUKI, Akira TAKAOKA, Takatoshi SEKIZAWA
  • Patent number: 10099699
    Abstract: A road surface condition estimation device includes a tire side device and a vehicle side device. The tire side device includes a vibration detection unit attached to a back surface of a tire tread and outputting a detection signal indicating a tire vibration magnitude, a signal processing unit, and a transmitter. The signal processing unit extracts a ground contact duration during which a portion of the tread corresponding to an arrangement position of the vibration detection unit is in contact with a ground, and calculates a high frequency component level of the detection signal detected during the ground contact duration as road surface condition data. When the ground contact duration is ended, a transmission trigger is transmitted to the transmitter and the transmitter transmits the road surface condition data. The vehicle side device estimates a road surface condition of the travelling road based on the road surface condition data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takashi Saitou, Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 10086835
    Abstract: A road-surface-condition estimation device is configured by a tire-side device and a vehicle-side device so as to grasp a road surface condition based on road surface condition data transmitted from a tire-side device. As a result, the road surface condition or a road surface ? of a traveling road surface of a vehicle can be accurately detected, and a more accurate lane keeping control can be performed according to the detection result. In particular, since the tire-side device estimates the road surface condition by detecting the vibration of a ground contact surface of the tire, the road surface condition can be estimated more accurately. Therefore, the more accurate lane keeping control can be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, SOKEN INC
    Inventors: Takatoshi Sekizawa, Youichirou Suzuki, Masashi Mori, Akira Takaoka
  • Patent number: 10086842
    Abstract: A road surface condition estimation device includes a tire side device and a vehicle side device. The tire side device includes a vibration detection unit outputting a detection signal indicating a tire vibration magnitude, a signal processing unit, and a transmitter. The signal processing unit extracts a ground contact duration during which a portion of the tread corresponding to an arrangement position of the vibration detection unit is in contact with a ground, calculates a high frequency component level of the detection signal detected during the ground contact duration, counts cumulative rotation number of the tire, and corrects the level of the high frequency component based on the cumulative rotation number of the tire. The transmitter transmits corrected level of the high frequency component as road surface condition data. The vehicle side device estimates a road surface condition of the travelling road based on the received road surface condition data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takashi Saitou, Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Publication number: 20180222458
    Abstract: A road surface condition estimation device extracts a detection signal of a vibration power generation element during a ground contact section to detect a road surface condition. A threshold used for determination of the ground contact section is variable according to a traveling speed of a vehicle. As a result, even if a pulse level of an output voltage of the vibration power generation element changes according to the traveling speed of the vehicle, the threshold corresponding to the change can be set. The ground contact section is determined with the use of the above thresholds, thereby being capable of performing the determination with high accuracy. Therefore, the road surface condition can be detected with high accuracy based on the ground contact section determined with high accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Youichirou SUZUKI, Akira TAKAOKA, Takatoshi SEKIZAWA
  • Patent number: 10029681
    Abstract: An erroneous start is controlled based on vibrations of a tire, irrespective of a poor visibility or an algorithm of an image processing. A tire-side unit detects a vibration of a tire when the tire has collided with a wheel stop or the like, and outputs collision data to a vehicle-side unit. The vehicle-side unit determines an erroneous start of the vehicle. Therefore, the erroneous start of the vehicle can be controlled without being affected by the poor visibility or the algorithm of the image processing as in a case of utilizing a camera or a radar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takashi Saitou, Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Publication number: 20180118209
    Abstract: A vehicle control device including a tire-side device and a vehicle-side device is provided. The tire-side device includes a vibration detection unit that outputs a detection signal corresponding to a magnitude of vibration of a tire, a signal processing unit that generates ? data representing a friction coefficient between the tire and a road surface by processing the detection signal, and a transmitter that transmits the ? data. The vehicle-side device includes a receiver that receives the ? data and a travel control unit that estimates the friction coefficient based on the ? data, acquires a braking distance of the vehicle based on the friction coefficient, and controls acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle based on the braking distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Youichirou SUZUKI, Akira TAKAOKA, Masashi MORI, Takatoshi SEKIZAWA
  • Patent number: 9827815
    Abstract: A tire device includes a vibration power generating element, a signal processing unit, and a transmitter. The vibration power generating element is arranged inside a tire and outputs a voltage corresponding to a time variation of a vibration generated in a tread of the tire. The signal processing unit is disposed inside the tire and performs signal processing on the voltage outputted from the vibration power generating element. The transmitter is arranged inside the tire and sends data subjected to the signal processing in the signal processing unit to a device provided outside the tire. The signal processing unit and the transmitter are driven by power generated in the vibration power generating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Takashi Saitou, Akira Takaoka, Nobuya Watabe, Takatoshi Sekizawa, Masashi Mori
  • Publication number: 20170305421
    Abstract: A road-surface-condition estimation device is configured by a tire-side device and a vehicle-side device so as to grasp a road surface condition based on road surface condition data transmitted from a tire-side device. As a result, the road surface condition or a road surface ? of a traveling road surface of a vehicle can be accurately detected, and a more accurate lane keeping control can be performed according to the detection result. In particular, since the tire-side device estimates the road surface condition by detecting the vibration of a ground contact surface of the tire, the road surface condition can be estimated more accurately. Therefore, the more accurate lane keeping control can be performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Takatoshi SEKIZAWA, Youichirou SUZUKI, Masashi MORI, Akira TAKAOKA
  • Patent number: 9764714
    Abstract: In a vehicular control device, an operating intention detection unit is disposed on a tire or wheel rim of a vehicle to detect an operating intention of a user relative to an opening/closing body of the vehicle. An operating intention acquisition unit is disposed on the vehicle body of the vehicle to acquire the operating intention. An ID code acquisition unit acquires, from a mobile device carried by the user, an ID code that identifies the user or the mobile device. An ID code determination unit determines whether the ID code is correct. The condition establishment determination unit determines, based on the operating intention of the user and on the result of ID code determination, whether an output condition for outputting operating instruction information that designates an operation of the opening/closing body is established. An output unit outputs the operating instruction information when the output conditions are established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takashi Saitou, Masashi Mori
  • Patent number: 9762294
    Abstract: The communication system includes a first communication device, a second communication device, and a third communication device. The first communication device outputs a high frequency alternating current power, and a power receiving circuit of the second communication device receives the high frequency alternating current power via a second antenna. A power line is connected between the second antenna and the power receiving circuit. A first power line has a first semicircle portion and a second power line has a second semicircle portion. The first and second semicircle portions are combined together to provide a loop-shaped antenna. The third communication device receives the high frequency alternating current power output from the loop-shaped antenna. At least two of the first, second, or third communication devices transmit or receive communication signals using respective antennas. The first and second power lines are twisted with each other at a portion other than the loop-shaped antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Saitou, Akira Takaoka, Koji Ito, Koichi Ito
  • Patent number: 9713944
    Abstract: Data representing a ground contact time of a tire is transmitted from a tire side device, and received by a vehicle side device to calculate the ground contact time of the tire, to thereby calculate a ground contact length of the tire at that time. In a situation where a tire air pressure may change such as a tire exchange, the ground contact length at that time is set as a reference ground contact length, and a determination reference value is set on the basis of the reference ground contact length. As a result, the relative determination reference value corresponding to the tire type can be set, and a variation of the reduction rate of the tire air pressure when it is determined that the tire air pressure is reduced can be reduced. As a result, the reduction in the tire air pressure can be detected with high precision regardless of the tire type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youichirou Suzuki, Akira Takaoka, Takashi Saitou, Nobuya Watabe, Masashi Mori, Takatoshi Sekizawa
  • Patent number: 9692133
    Abstract: In an antenna, a first element is connected to a GND of a feeder, on the same plane as a GND of a wireless circuit, and isolated from the GND of the wireless circuit. A second element is on the same plane as the GND of the wireless circuit and a first end connected to the first element and a second end as an open end. The third element has a first end connected to a power source of the feeder and located in a region occupied by the first element perpendicularly to the first element so that its first end source faces down. The fourth element has a first end connected to a second end of the third element and a second end as an open end, is parallel to the first element, and is perpendicular to a line connecting the first and second ends of the second element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Yuuji Kakuya, Munenori Matsumoto, Akira Takaoka, Toshifumi Shimoda, Takatoshi Sekizawa, Nobuya Watabe