Patents by Inventor Akira Yamamura
Akira Yamamura 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: 20240150585Abstract: To further improve, even under OT bending with the use of a Zn—Al—Mg-based alloy plated steel sheet as a base sheet, corrosion resistance regarding corrosion under paint film at a OT bent portion and a periphery thereof, without causing occurrence of cracks and peeling in the paint film. A pre-coated plated steel sheet according to the present invention includes: a plating layer composed of Zn—Al—Mg-based alloy plating, the plating layer being positioned on one side or both sides of a steel sheet; a chemical treatment film layer positioned on the plating layer; and a paint film layer positioned on the chemical treatment film, in which the paint film layer includes a primer paint film layer, and an upper paint film layer positioned on the primer paint film layer, and at least any of the following is satisfied: both a condition (a-1) and a condition (a-2); a condition (b); and a condition (c).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2022Publication date: May 9, 2024Applicant: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyasu FURUKAWA, Takashi FUJII, Fumio SHIBAO, Kohei UEDA, Akira NAKAGAWA, Yuki YAMAMURA, Naoto SASAKI
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Publication number: 20230098751Abstract: A measurement device measures changes over time of a concentration of a measurement substance that occurs due to a reaction occurring as a result of a solution containing the analyte being dripped onto an electrode, by measuring an electric current that occurs due to electrolysis of the measurement substance. The measurement device applies a first voltage over a first application time period. The measurement device measures a first electric current flowing due to an application of the first voltage. The measurement device applies a second voltage over a second application time period. The measurement device a second electric current flowing due to an application of the second voltage. The measurement device uses the first electric current to normalize the second electric current and measures a concentration of the measurement substance that has changed based on the reaction or a concentration of the analyte that has changed based on the reaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Hideki MIYAZAKI, Tetsuya KUWABARA, Yuko MURATA, Akira YAMAMURA
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Patent number: 11119434Abstract: Disclosed is a discrimination device that may serve to discriminate a type of a recording medium and may include: a housing unit provided with an opening so as to face a conveyance path on which the recording medium is conveyed; and a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit that are accommodated in the housing unit. The light emitting unit may be capable of emitting light toward the recording medium disposed so as to face the opening. The light receiving unit may be capable of receiving light reflected from the recording medium. The housing unit may include a shutter that allows switching between an opened state where the opening is opened and a closed state where the opening is closed.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Akira Yamamura, Shogo Asaoka
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Patent number: 10999450Abstract: An image inspection apparatus includes: an illumination part that emits light on an inspection target; a reading part that is arranged with, in one or more dimensions, elements that detect light reflected by the inspection target, the reading part reading an entire width of the inspection target; and a hardware processor that inspects a characteristic of the inspection target, wherein a light guide member is provided at a position where light regularly reflected by the inspection target passes, the light guide member is arranged to allow an optical path of light incident on the reading part via the light guide member to be parallel to an optical path of light incident on the reading part without via the light guide member, and the hardware processor inspects a gloss distribution of the inspection target, and inspects a density distribution of the inspection target.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2020Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventor: Akira Yamamura
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Publication number: 20200389559Abstract: An image inspection apparatus includes: an illumination part that emits light on an inspection target; a reading part that is arranged with, in one or more dimensions, elements that detect light reflected by the inspection target, the reading part reading an entire width of the inspection target; and a hardware processor that inspects a characteristic of the inspection target, wherein a light guide member is provided at a position where light regularly reflected by the inspection target passes, the light guide member is arranged to allow an optical path of light incident on the reading part via the light guide member to be parallel to an optical path of light incident on the reading part without via the light guide member, and the hardware processor inspects a gloss distribution of the inspection target, and inspects a density distribution of the inspection target.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventor: Akira YAMAMURA
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Publication number: 20200183317Abstract: Disclosed is a discrimination device that may serve to discriminate a type of a recording medium and may include: a housing unit provided with an opening so as to face a conveyance path on which the recording medium is conveyed; and a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit that are accommodated in the housing unit. The light emitting unit may be capable of emitting light toward the recording medium disposed so as to face the opening. The light receiving unit may be capable of receiving light reflected from the recording medium. The housing unit may include a shutter that allows switching between an opened state where the opening is opened and a closed state where the opening is closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2019Publication date: June 11, 2020Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Akira YAMAMURA, Shogo ASAOKA
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Patent number: 10462315Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source that emits light in a main scanning direction to a subject to be read, a light receiving unit that receives light reflected by the subject to be read, and an optical system that images the light reflected by the subject to be read and guides the light to the light receiving unit. The optical system includes a reflector mirror that reflects the light reflected by the subject to be read, and an optical element that is disposed adjacent to the reflector mirror and images the light reflected by the subject to be read. The optical element is held by the reflector mirror.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Akira Yamamura, Shogo Asaoka
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Patent number: 10382642Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source, a light receiving unit, and an optical system. The light receiving unit includes a plurality of light receiving elements. The optical system includes a plurality of optical components for splitting the light reflected from the object to be read, and guiding the split light to each of the plurality of light receiving elements. The plurality of optical components include a splitting component that splits the light reflected from the object to be read in a direction corresponding to a main direction, and a common component provided with a common portion. The common portion has an optically acting area causing a common effect on the tight split by the splitting component. A cross sectional shape of the optically acting area orthogonal to a direction corresponding to the main direction is the same shape along the direction corresponding to the main direction.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Satoko Ohzawa, Akira Yamamura, Shogo Asaoka, Yuki Higuchi
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Publication number: 20190235435Abstract: A sheet distinguishing device that determines sheet type and includes a light emitter, a light receiver, a calculator 53, and a determiner 52. The light emitter irradiates a sheet with light at discrete wavelengths. The light receiver receives light from the sheet. The calculator 53 obtains an intensity of light for each of the discrete wavelengths from the light received, and calculates a characteristic value with respect to a wavelength distribution of light intensity, based on the intensities obtained. The determiner 52 determines whether the sheet is a first type or a second type by using the characteristic value.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventor: Akira YAMAMURA
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Publication number: 20180262638Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source, a light receiving unit, and an optical system. The light receiving unit includes a plurality of light receiving elements. The optical system includes a plurality of optical components for splitting the light reflected from the object to be read, and guiding the split light to each of the plurality of light receiving elements. The plurality of optical components include a splitting component that splits the light reflected from the object to be read in a direction corresponding to a main direction, and a common component provided with a common portion. The common portion has an optically acting area causing a common effect on the tight split by the splitting component. A cross sectional shape of the optically acting area orthogonal to a direction corresponding to the main direction is the same shape along the direction corresponding to the main direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Applicant: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Satoko OHZAWA, Akira YAMAMURA, Shogo ASAOKA, Yuki HIGUCHI
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Publication number: 20180131825Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source that emits light in a main scanning direction to a subject to be read, a light receiving unit that receives light reflected by the subject to be read, and an optical system that images the light reflected by the subject to be read and guides the light to the light receiving unit. The optical system includes a reflector mirror that reflects the light reflected by the subject to be read, and an optical element that is disposed adjacent to the reflector mirror and images the light reflected by the subject to be read. The optical element is held by the reflector mirror.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2017Publication date: May 10, 2018Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Akira YAMAMURA, Shogo ASAOKA
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Patent number: 9521287Abstract: A light guide for use in an image reading apparatus. The light guide extends in a predetermined direction. The light guide comprises an emitting surface, through which light rays entering the light guide are emitted, and a reflecting surface configured to reflect the light rays to the emitting surface. A cross-sectional surface of the light guide, which is a sectional surface of the light guide along a plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction in which the light guide extends, has a shape including a combination of an ellipse and a parabola. The parabola on the cross-sectional surface of the light guide defines the reflecting surface. A focal point of the parabola is located on a first focal point of the ellipse that is closer to the reflecting surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2015Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.Inventors: Akira Yamamura, Masahiko Tanaka
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Patent number: 9295918Abstract: A game control server apparatus includes an enemy character providing unit that provides a normal enemy character and a strong enemy character in a game; and a game management control unit that repeats for a first period, a normal step of providing the normal enemy character to appear in the game, a determining step of determining whether an appearance condition of the strong enemy character is satisfied, and a strong step of providing the strong enemy character when the appearance condition is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2014Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: DeNA Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Yamamura, Toshiko Enomoto
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Publication number: 20150198758Abstract: A light guide for use in an image reading apparatus. The light guide extends in a predetermined direction. The light guide comprises an emitting surface, through which light rays entering the light guide are emitted, and a reflecting surface configured to reflect the light rays to the emitting surface. A cross-sectional surface of the light guide, which is a sectional surface of the light guide along a plane orthogonal to the predetermined direction in which the light guide extends, has a shape including a combination of an ellipse and a parabola. The parabola on the cross-sectional surface of the light guide defines the reflecting surface. A focal point of the parabola is located on a first focal point of the ellipse that is closer to the reflecting surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventors: Akira YAMAMURA, Masahiko TANAKA
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Publication number: 20150165325Abstract: A game control server apparatus includes an enemy character providing unit that provides a normal enemy character and a strong enemy character in a game; and a game management control unit that repeats for a first period, a normal step of providing the normal enemy character to appear in the game, a determining step of determining whether an appearance condition of the strong enemy character is satisfied, and a strong step of providing the strong enemy character when the appearance condition is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2014Publication date: June 18, 2015Inventors: Akira YAMAMURA, Toshiko ENOMOTO
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Patent number: 8953194Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image reading mechanism configured to read an image from a document; an image forming mechanism configured to print the image read by the image reading mechanism on a recording sheet; and an image inspection mechanism configured to read the image printed on the recording sheet in the image forming mechanism. The image reading mechanism and the image inspection mechanism each include: a light source configured to irradiate a reading target with light; and a solid-state image sensing device on which reflected light from the reading target is made incident, and configured to perform photoelectric conversion operation. Light emitting members forming the light sources of the image reading mechanism and the image inspection mechanism have the same spectral characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2013Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Akira Yamamura, Makoto Ooki, Takashi Kurosawa, Hideo Uemura, Masahiko Takahashi, Kazuki Ikeda
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Patent number: 8923720Abstract: Provided is a control panel support mechanism having a first support member attached to an image forming apparatus, a second support member supporting a control panel and axially supported by the first support member to be vertically swingable with respect to the first support member, a lock member slidable towards or away from a swing axis of the second support member, and a biasing unit to bias the lock member to slide towards the swing axis. The first support member has a plurality of engaging grooves each positioned along a radial direction with respect to the swing axis and having an opening at an end of the first support member opposite the swing axis, the plurality of engaging grooves being aligned vertically. The biasing unit biases the lock member so that the lock member enters one of the plurality of engaging grooves through the opening to lock in engagement with the engaging groove.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Naotaka Uchida, Akira Yamamura, Kenji Sawada
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Publication number: 20140168725Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image reading mechanism configured to read an image from a document; an image forming mechanism configured to print the image read by the image reading mechanism on a recording sheet; and an image inspection mechanism configured to read the image printed on the recording sheet in the image forming mechanism. The image reading mechanism and the image inspection mechanism each include: a light source configured to irradiate a reading target with light; and a solid-state image sensing device on which reflected light from the reading target is made incident, and configured to perform photoelectric conversion operation. Light emitting members forming the light sources of the image reading mechanism and the image inspection mechanism have the same spectral characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2013Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventors: Akira YAMAMURA, Makoto OOKI, Takashi KUROSAWA, Hideo UEMURA, Masahiko TAKAHASHI, Kazuki IKEDA
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Patent number: 8570615Abstract: An image scanning device includes: a light source; a light guide for converting light from the light source into a linear light beam and applying the linear light beam onto a reading position; an image reading element for receiving the light beam reflected from the reading position; and a light intensity sensor for detecting an intensity of the light emitted from the light source.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Akira Yamamura, Masahiko Tanaka, Kenji Sawada, Yuichi Akahori
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Publication number: 20110261418Abstract: An image scanning device includes: a light source; a light guide for converting light from the light source into a linear light beam and applying the linear light beam onto a reading position; an image reading element for receiving the light beam reflected from the reading position; and a light intensity sensor for detecting an intensity of the light emitted from the light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2011Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Akira Yamamura, Masahiko Tanaka, Kenji Sawada, Yuichi Akahori