Patents by Inventor Fuminori Tanaka

Fuminori Tanaka 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: 20140233746
    Abstract: An acoustic space including a sound output path, first and second sound input paths is formed in a main body casing of an earphone microphone. Output sound from a speaker propagates in the sound output path. Sound input to a first microphone propagates in the first sound input path communicating with outside. Sound input to a second microphone propagates in the second sound input path. The sound output path branches into one path communicating with the outside of the main body casing and the other path communicating with the second sound input path. The earphone microphone amplifies a sound signal output from at least one of the first and second microphones so as to input sound from a sound source outside the main body casing, and suppresses input of the output sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fuminori TANAKA, Noriyuki SHIMIZU
  • Publication number: 20140233749
    Abstract: An earphone microphone includes a single speaker, a microphone having first and second sound input holes, and a main body casing in which an acoustic space is formed. The acoustic space includes a sound output path in which output sound propagates, a first sound input path communicating with outside, in which sound to be input to the first sound input hole propagates, and a second sound input path in which sound to be input to the second sound input hole propagates. The sound output path branches into one path communicating with outside of the main body casing and the other path communicating with the second sound input path. Input sound from a sound source outside the main body casing is input while input of output sound is suppressed by acoustic resistance of the acoustic space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Noriyuki SHIMIZU, Fuminori TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8811645
    Abstract: Disclosed is a differential microphone unit which can improve the characteristics of a microphone unit and widen the directional range thereof. The disclosed differential microphone unit (100) is provided with: a microphone housing (20) which is provided with a pair of first sound holes (22a, 22b) on the same major surface (20a); a vibrating portion (11) which is disposed in the microphone housing and which vibrates according to differences in sound pressure transmitted via each of the pair of first sound holes; and sealing members (30, 130), which are disposed on the major surface of the microphone housing and which each contain a pair of second sound holes (31a, 31b, 131a, 131b) disposed so as to be in respective contact with the pair of first sound holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Syuzi Umeda
  • Patent number: 8774429
    Abstract: A voice input device, a method for manufacturing the same, and an information processing system are provided. The voice input device has a function of removing a noise component and includes a first microphone 710-1 that includes a first vibrating membrane, a second microphone 710-2 that includes a second vibrating membrane, and a differential signal generation section 720 that generates a differential signal between a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal. The first and second vibrating membranes are disposed so that a noise intensity ratio is smaller than an input voice intensity ratio that represents the ratio to intensity of an input voice component. The differential signal generation section 720 includes a delay section 730 and a differential signal output section 740 that generates and outputs a differential signal with respect to a signal to which a delay is applied by the delay section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda
  • Patent number: 8731693
    Abstract: A voice input device includes a first microphone (710-1) that includes a first diaphragm, a second microphone (710-2) that includes a second diaphragm, and a differential signal generation section (720) that generates a differential signal that indicates a difference between a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm being disposed so that a noise intensity ratio is smaller than an input voice intensity ratio (input voice component intensity ratio), and the differential signal generation section (720) including a gain section (760) that amplifies the first voltage signal by a predetermined gain, and a differential signal output section (740) that generates and outputs a differential signal that indicates a difference between the first voltage signal amplified by the gain section and the second voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Shigeo Maeda, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda, Hideki Choji
  • Patent number: 8715442
    Abstract: A tubular lateral pipe lining material is configured to be inserted into a lateral pipe which intersects with a main pipe in order to repair the lateral pipe. The tubular lateral pipe lining material has a flexible tubular resin-absorbing material impregnated with an uncured curable liquid resin. The tubular resin-absorbing material has one end that is folded back. A flange member, over which the folded-back end of the tubular resin-absorbing material is pressed, is made of a thermoplastic resin. An adhesive is applied over the flange member and the folded-back end of the tubular-absorbing material to bond the tubular resin-absorbing material to the flange member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Shonan Gosei-Jushi Seisakusho K.K.
    Inventors: Takao Kamiyama, Koji Kaneta, Kenji Fujii, Fuminori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8649545
    Abstract: To provide a downsized microphone unit in which a differential microphone is densely mounted thereon. The microphone unit has a cover portion 30 and a microphone substrate 10, in which a first substrate internal space 15 is communicated with a cover portion internal space 32 via a first substrate opening 11 and a cover portion opening 31, and is communicated with the outside via a second substrate opening 12, a second substrate internal space 16 is communicated with the cover portion internal space 32 via a third substrate opening 13 and a cover portion opening 31, and is communicated with the outside via a fourth substrate opening 14, a partition portion 20 covers a communication aperture between the first substrate opening 11 and the cover portion opening 31, and a diaphragm 22 covers at least a part of the communication aperture between the first substrate opening 11 and the cover portion opening 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co. Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8635753
    Abstract: A lateral pipe lining material having a flange on one end thereof is installed on a head collar which is hermetically mounted on a pressure bag that stores the lateral pipe lining material. The head collar comprises a curved section and a cylindrical section projecting from the curved section. An expandable member is mounted to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical section of the head collar, and expanded so that the outer circumferential surface of the expanding member comes into close contact with the inner circumferential surface near the flange, and the inner circumferential surface thereof comes into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical section of the head collar. This allows a hermetical connection between the lateral pipe lining material and the head collar and ensures a reliable eversion and insertion of the lining material into a lateral pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Shonan Gosei-Jushi Seisakusho K.K.
    Inventors: Takao Kamiyama, Koji Kaneta, Kenji Fujii, Fuminori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8638955
    Abstract: A voice input device includes a first microphone (710-1) that includes a first diaphragm, a second microphone (710-2) that includes a second diaphragm, and a differential signal generation section (720) that generates a differential signal that indicates a difference between a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm being disposed so that a noise intensity ratio is smaller than an input voice intensity ratio (input voice component intensity ratio), and the differential signal generation section (720) including a delay section (730), and a differential signal output section (740) that generates and outputs a differential signal based on a signal delayed by the delay section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Shigeo Maeda, Takeshi Inoda, Hideki Choji
  • Patent number: 8605930
    Abstract: A microphone unit 1 of the present invention includes a case 10 having an internal space 100, a partition member 20 which is provided in the case, and at least partially composed of a vibrating membrane 30, that splits the internal space into a first space 102 and a second space 104, and an electrical signal output circuit 40 that outputs an electrical signal on the basis of vibration of the vibrating membrane. A first through hole 12 through which the first space 102 and an external space of the case are communicated with each other, and a second through hole 14 through which the second space 104 and the external space of the case are communicated with each other are formed in the case 10. In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide a high-quality microphone unit whose outer shape is small and which is capable of performing thorough noise cancellation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Hideki Chouji, Takeshi Inoda
  • Patent number: 8565465
    Abstract: Provided is a microphone unit having flat frequency characteristics. A microphone unit includes a casing, a first substrate, a second substrate, a vibrating unit, a diaphragm, an ASIC, and a dummy component. The dummy component is attached to the substrate to be located below an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Patent number: 8559664
    Abstract: A microphone unit comprises a microphone, leg members and a base. The microphone comprises a diaphragm for detecting sound and a housing for containing the diaphragm. The leg members project outwardly from a rear wall of the housing, and are provided near a second through-hole which connects a second inner space to outer space. The base is connected to the leg members to form a gap between the housing and the base. When the microphone unit thus formed in a simple structure and reduced thickness is mounted in a product, the gap allows the outer space to be connected to the second inner space through the second through-hole, making it possible to efficiently guide sound to the second inner space and obtain good differential characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8526656
    Abstract: A microphone unit includes: a housing; a diaphragm which is disposed in the inside of the housing; and an electric circuit portion which processes an electric signal that is generated based on a vibration of the diaphragm. In the housing, a first sound guide space which guides a sound outside the housing to a first surface of the diaphragm via a first sound hole and a second sound guide space which guides a sound outside the housing to a second surface, that is, an opposite surface of the diaphragm via a second sound hole are formed. The electric circuit portion is disposed in either one of the first sound guide space and the second sound guide space; and an acoustic resistance portion which adjusts at least one of a frequency characteristic of the first sound guide space and a frequency characteristic of the second sound guide space is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Takeshi Inoda, Masatoshi Ono, Rikuo Takano, Toshimi Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 8520878
    Abstract: A microphone unit is provided with an electroacoustic conversion portion that includes a diaphragm vibrated by sound pressure and that converts the sound pressure into electrical signals and a board on which the electroacoustic conversion portion is mounted. In the board, there are provided a board opening portion that is formed to face the diaphragm and locating walls that come in contact with the electroacoustic conversion portion to locate the electroacoustic conversion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8472656
    Abstract: A microphone unit includes: a housing which has an inner space; a partition member which is provided in the housing and divides the inner space into a first space and a second space, the partition member being at least partially formed of a diaphragm; and an electrical signal output circuit which outputs an electrical signal based on vibrations of the diaphragm. In the housing, a first through-hole through which the first space communicates with an outer space of the housing and a second through-hole through which the second space communicates with the outer space are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc., Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Hideki Choji, Takeshi Inoda
  • Patent number: 8457342
    Abstract: A differential microphone includes a housing having a first space and a second space formed therein, and a first diaphragm arranged within the housing. A first opening connecting the first space to outside and a second opening connecting the second space to the outside are formed in the housing. A dimension of the first opening and the second opening in a first direction perpendicular to a straight line passing through centers of both openings is longer than a dimension of the first opening and the second opening in a second direction parallel to the straight line passing through the centers of both openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Takeshi Inoda, Rikuo Takano, Kiyoshi Sugiyama, Toshimi Fukuoka, Masatoshi Ono
  • Publication number: 20130136292
    Abstract: A microphone unit (1) includes: an electroacoustic conversion element (13) that converts a sound signal into an electrical signal based on vibration of a diaphragm (134); and an enclosure (10) that holds the electroacoustic conversion element (13). A first sound guide space (SP1) holding the electroacoustic conversion element (13) and a second sound guide space (SP2) separated by the diaphragm (134) from the first sound guide space (SP1) are provided in the enclosure. In an inward side of the second sound guide space (SP2) apart from the second opening (19), a cross-sectional area reduction portion (AR) is provided that locally reduces, as compared with forward and backward portions thereof, an area of a sound path cross section substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the sound wave travels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka, Shuji Umeda
  • Publication number: 20130129133
    Abstract: A microphone unit (1) is provided with an electro-acoustic transducer (13) which converts acoustic signals into electric signals on the basis of the oscillation of a diaphragm (134), and a housing (10) which contains the electro-acoustic transducer (13). The housing (10) is provided with: a first sound conduction space (SP1) that guides sound waves from the outside to one side of the diaphragm (134) via at least one first aperture (18) formed on the exterior of the housing (10); and a second sound conduction space (SP2) that guides sound waves from the outside to the other side of the diaphragm (134) via at least one second aperture (19) formed on the exterior of the housing (10). The total square area of at least one first aperture (18) and the total square area of at least one second aperture (19) are not the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inoda, Ryusuke Horibe, Fuminori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8433089
    Abstract: A microphone unit is disposed in the inside of a first housing of a voice input apparatus. The microphone unit includes: a second housing; a diaphragm which is disposed in the inside of the second housing; and an electric circuit portion which processes an electric signal that is generated based on a vibration of the diaphragm. In the voice input apparatus, a first sound guide space which guides a sound outside the first housing to a first surface of the diaphragm and a second sound guide space which guides a sound outside the first housing to a second surface of the diaphragm are formed. The electric circuit portion is disposed in either one of the first sound guide space and the second sound guide space; and an acoustic resistance portion which adjusts at least one of a frequency characteristic of the first sound guide space and a frequency characteristic of the second sound guide space is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignees: Funai Electric Co., Ltd., Funai Electric Advanced Applied Technology Research Institute Inc.
    Inventors: Fuminori Tanaka, Ryusuke Horibe, Takeshi Inoda, Masatoshi Ono, Rikuo Takano, Toshimi Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 8422715
    Abstract: A microphone unit comprises a vibratory diaphragm for detecting sound input through its first and second openings. The sound input through the first opening is guided to a front surface of the vibratory diaphragm while the sound input through the second opening is guided to a rear surface of the vibratory diaphragm so as to detect the sound by the vibration of the vibratory diaphragm. The microphone unit satisfies relation 0.76?D/?r?2.0 where D is difference in time between the sound propagation time from the first opening to the front surface of the vibratory diaphragm and that from the second opening to the rear surface of the vibratory diaphragm, while ?r is distance between the first and second openings. The relation D/?r?2.0 can reduce far-field noise, while the relation 0.76?D/?r can increase the detection sensitivity to sound emitted from a null point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Horibe, Rikuo Takano, Fuminori Tanaka, Takeshi Inoda