Patents by Inventor Fumiaki Nakao

Fumiaki Nakao 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: 11877515
    Abstract: An actuator and tactile sensation providing apparatus include an actuator including a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and a support. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The support supports the vibration plate and is configured so that an end of the vibration plate is displaced more in a longitudinal direction than in a normal direction of the vibration plate in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The angle between the vibration plate and the support is acute. The tactile sensation providing apparatus can further include an object of vibration configured to provide a tactile sensation to a user by vibration of the vibration plate being transmitted to the object of vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki Nakao
  • Patent number: 11620882
    Abstract: An actuator and a tactile sensation providing apparatus that can reduce the number of elements are provided. The actuator includes a piezoelectric element and a diaphragm that has the piezoelectric element attached thereto and vibrates according to an expanding and contracting displacement of the piezoelectric element. The diaphragm converts the expanding and contracting displacement of the piezoelectric element into a vibration in a predetermined direction. The diaphragm supports a vibration object for providing a tactile sensation, in a displaceable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki Nakao
  • Patent number: 11605272
    Abstract: Provided is an actuator having a piezoelectric element, a diaphragm to which the piezoelectric element is bonded and vibrates according to expansion and contraction displacement of the piezoelectric element, and a first spacer and a second spacer configured to fix both ends of the diaphragm in expansion and contraction displacement direction of the piezoelectric element to a base member. The driving characteristics of the actuator are determined by an effective length of the diaphragm between the first spacer and the second spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiaki Nakao, Shigeto Hattori
  • Patent number: 11552483
    Abstract: An electric storage system is provided including a switching unit which is arranged between an electric storage unit of an electric storage device which is configured to be connectable in parallel with another power supply device and wire which is configured to electrically connect the electric storage device and the another power supply device, wherein the switching unit is configured to switch the electrical connection relationship between the wire and the electric storage unit; and a restriction unit which is connected in parallel with the switching unit between the wire and the electric storage unit, has a higher resistance than the switching unit, and is configured to cause current to flow in a direction from the electric storage unit to the wire and suppress current flowing in a direction from the wire to the electric storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NExT-e Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Nakao, Hiroyasu Sato
  • Patent number: 11550398
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a panel, a touch sensor, a plurality of the actuators, and a controller. The touch sensor is configured to detect a contact position on the panel. The plurality of the actuators are configured to vibrate the panel. The controller is configured to control such that accelerations of vibrations transmitted to the panel from the plurality of the actuators become maximum at the contact position at the same timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki Nakao
  • Publication number: 20220399734
    Abstract: A first electric storage device includes a first switching unit disposed between a wiring and the first electric storage unit and configured to switch an electrical connection relationship between the wiring and the first electric storage unit based on a voltage difference between the wiring and the first electric storage unit. A second electric storage device includes a second switching unit disposed between the wiring and the second electric storage unit and configured to switch an electrical connection relationship between the wiring and the second electric storage unit based on a voltage difference between the wiring and the second electric storage unit. A charge end voltage of the first electric storage unit is equal to or less than a full charging voltage of the first electric storage unit, and is greater than a charge end voltage of the second electric storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Fumiaki NAKAO, Kazuo TAKEHARA
  • Patent number: 11482869
    Abstract: A switching unit is included, which is arranged between a first electric storage unit of a first electric storage device configured to be connectable in parallel with a second electric storage device and a wire electrically connecting the first electric storage device and the second electric storage device, and which is configured to switch a electrical connection relationship of the wire and the first electric storage unit. A restricting unit is included, which is connected in parallel with the switching unit between the wire and the first electric storage unit, has a higher resistance than the switching unit, and is configured to cause a current to flow in the direction from the wire to the first electric storage unit and suppress current flowing in the direction from the first electric storage unit to the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: NExT-e Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Fumiaki Nakao
  • Patent number: 11462927
    Abstract: An electric storage system to which a first electric storage device and a second electric storage device connected in parallel can be mounted decides a rated voltage of the first electric storage device in an electric storage system having at least one of (A) a discharge standby stage and (B) a charge standby stage. It decides a large and small relationship between the rated voltage of the electric storage device for which at least one of (i) an accumulated time, (ii) an accumulated power amount, and (iii) an accumulated number is decided to be made higher among the first electric storage device and the second electric storage device, and the rated voltage of the other electric storage device. It decides the rated voltage of the first electric storage device such that the large and small relationship decided in the large and small relationship deciding step is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: NExT-e Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Nakao, Kazuo Takehara
  • Patent number: 11411167
    Abstract: An actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and a holder. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates an object of vibration in accordance with expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element. The holder is joined to the vibration plate and holds the object of vibration. The height of the holder is less than the maximum bending displacement at which the piezoelectric element is not damaged by an external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki Nakao
  • Patent number: 11404627
    Abstract: A tactile sensation providing apparatus includes an actuator and an object of vibration configured to provide a tactile sensation to a user by vibration of the vibration plate being transmitted to the object of vibration. The actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and supports. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The supports support the vibration plate. The angles, when the actuator is not being driven, between the vibration plate and the supports are acute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki Nakao
  • Publication number: 20220238789
    Abstract: An actuator and tactile sensation providing apparatus include an actuator including a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, and a support. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and vibrates in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The support supports the vibration plate and is configured so that an end of the vibration plate is displaced more in a longitudinal direction than in a normal direction of the vibration plate in accordance with displacement of the piezoelectric element. The angle between the vibration plate and the support is acute. The tactile sensation providing apparatus can further include an object of vibration configured to provide a tactile sensation to a user by vibration of the vibration plate being transmitted to the object of vibration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicant: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki NAKAO
  • Patent number: 11362260
    Abstract: An actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a vibration plate, a support, a holder, and first and second fixing portions. The vibration plate has the piezoelectric element joined thereto and bends and vibrates in accordance with expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element. The support supports the vibration plate on a base to allow bending and vibration of the vibration plate. The holder holds an object of vibration to the vibration plate. The first fixing portion is coupled to the support and fixes the support to the base. The second fixing portion is coupled to the holder and fixes the object of vibration to the holder. The first and second fixing portions are each displaceable in a direction intersecting the direction of the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki Nakao
  • Patent number: 11318498
    Abstract: A unit and a tactile sensation providing apparatus which enable simplification of the assembly process of the apparatus are provided. The unit is provided with an actuator, a first fixing unit fixable to a base, a second fixing unit, and an elastic member configured to couple the first fixing unit and the second fixing unit together. The second fixing unit is fixable to a vibration object and coupled to the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiaki Nakao, Jun Takeda, Shigeto Hattori, Kazushi Koike, Takeshi Shintani, Takeshi Yamori, Shun Hirooka
  • Publication number: 20220077703
    Abstract: An electric storage system to which a first electric storage device and a second electric storage device connected in parallel can be mounted decides a rated voltage of the first electric storage device in an electric storage system having at least one of (A) a discharge standby stage and (B) a charge standby stage. It decides a large and small relationship between the rated voltage of the electric storage device for which at least one of (i) an accumulated time, (ii) an accumulated power amount, and (iii) an accumulated number is decided to be made higher among the first electric storage device and the second electric storage device, and the rated voltage of the other electric storage device. It decides the rated voltage of the first electric storage device such that the large and small relationship decided in the large and small relationship deciding step is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Fumiaki NAKAO, Kazuo TAKEHARA
  • Publication number: 20220020250
    Abstract: Provided is an actuator having a piezoelectric element, a diaphragm to which the piezoelectric element is bonded and vibrates according to expansion and contraction displacement of the piezoelectric element, and a first spacer and a second spacer configured to fix both ends of the diaphragm in expansion and contraction displacement direction of the piezoelectric element to a base member. The driving characteristics of the actuator are determined by an effective length of the diaphragm between the first spacer and the second spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Fumiaki NAKAO, Shigeto HATTORI
  • Publication number: 20220011865
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a panel, a touch sensor, a plurality of the actuators, and a controller. The touch sensor is configured to detect a contact position on the panel. The plurality of the actuators are configured to vibrate the panel. The controller is configured to control such that accelerations of vibrations transmitted to the panel from the plurality of the actuators become maximum at the contact position at the same timing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki NAKAO
  • Publication number: 20210312770
    Abstract: An actuator and a tactile sensation providing apparatus that can reduce the number of elements are provided. The actuator includes a piezoelectric element and a diaphragm that has the piezoelectric element attached thereto and vibrates according to an expanding and contracting displacement of the piezoelectric element. The diaphragm converts the expanding and contracting displacement of the piezoelectric element into a vibration in a predetermined direction. The diaphragm supports a vibration object for providing a tactile sensation, in a displaceable manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Fumiaki NAKAO
  • Patent number: 11027614
    Abstract: Charging and discharging of a plurality of electric storage cells connected in series are: managed by equalizing voltages of a plurality of electric storage cells; and, without disconnecting or shifting an electrical connection between (a) the plurality of electric storage cells and (b-1) a load which uses electric power of the plurality of electric storage cells or (b-2) a charging device which charges the plurality of electric storage cells, (i) sending electric power of the plurality of electric storage cells to an external apparatus which is different from the load and the charging device, or (ii) receiving receives electric power supplied to the plurality of electric storage cells from the external apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: NExT-e Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Fumiaki Nakao
  • Patent number: 11022831
    Abstract: Damage to a vibrator is reduced, and reliability of a display apparatus of a tactile sensation transmitting type is improved. The display apparatus includes: a display substrate having an operation surface; a support disposed away from the display substrate on an opposite side from the operation surface of the display substrate; a vibrator that is arranged between the display substrate and the support and configured to vibrate the display substrate; and an elastic support member that extends from a display substrate side surface of the support to a surface of the support on an opposite side from the display substrate in a manner wrapping around the support, and has one edge fixed to the surface of the support on the opposite side from the display substrate and the other edge elastically supporting the display substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Nagasaki, Fumiaki Nakao, Takeshi Shintani
  • Patent number: 10963056
    Abstract: A touch panel and a display apparatus include a backlight apparatus serving as a supporting substrate, a transparent protective plate that is arranged spaced apart from the backlight apparatus and includes an operating surface on an opposite side of the backlight apparatus; a plurality of vibrators for vibrating the transparent protective plate; and a resilient supporting member arranged between the backlight apparatus and the transparent protective plate to support the transparent protective plate and extend and contract diagonally across a thickness direction of the transparent protective plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichi Nagasaki, Takashi Shimizu, Fumiaki Nakao