Patents by Inventor Fumiyasu Konno
Fumiyasu Konno 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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Patent number: 8855333Abstract: An ultrasonic speaker system has a first variable gain block, a modulation block, a second variable gain block, an ultrasonic actuator, and a controller, wherein the controller controls gain of the first variable gain block so that a modulation degree of a modulated signal becomes a predetermined value, and when the controller raises the gain of the first variable gain block, the controller lowers the gain of the second variable gain block, while when the controller lowers the gain of the first variable gain block, the controller raises the gain of the second variable gain block.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2014Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kazuhisa Kotegawa, Fumiyasu Konno, Katsu Takeda
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Publication number: 20140254811Abstract: Provided is a sound reproduction device including: a first loudspeaker having directionality utilizing a parametric effect; a second loudspeaker having directionality broader than that of the first loudspeaker; an orientation adjustment unit configured to change an orientation of the first loudspeaker; an information obtaining device configured to obtain positional information of a listener; and a drive controller electrically connected to the first loudspeaker, the second loudspeaker, the orientation adjustment unit, and the information obtaining device, and configured to control the orientation of the first loudspeaker based on the positional information of the listener.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Katsu TAKEDA, Fumiyasu KONNO, Kazuhisa KOTEGAWA
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Publication number: 20140241552Abstract: Provided is a sound reproduction device including a loudspeaker and a superdirective speaker. The loudspeaker is configured so that a sound pressure of audible sound produced therefrom decreases as the sound travels farther away from the loudspeaker. The superdirective speaker is configured so that a sound pressure of audible sound produced therefrom has a peak at a predetermined distance from the superdirective speaker, and is configured to use an ultrasonic wave as a carrier wave. The loudspeaker and the superdirective speaker are positioned such that a loudspeaker sound field of the audible sound produced from the loudspeaker and a superdirective speaker sound field of the audible sound produced from the superdirective speaker overlap with each other at a position of a listener.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2014Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Katsu TAKEDA, Fumiyasu KONNO, Susumu FUKUSHIMA, Rihito SHOJI
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Publication number: 20140233760Abstract: An ultrasonic speaker system has a first variable gain block, a modulation block, a second variable gain block, an ultrasonic actuator, and a controller, wherein the controller controls gain of the first variable gain block so that a modulation degree of a modulated signal becomes a predetermined value, and when the controller raises the gain of the first variable gain block, the controller lowers the gain of the second variable gain block, while when the controller lowers the gain of the first variable gain block, the controller raises the gain of the second variable gain block.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2014Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuhisa KOTEGAWA, Fumiyasu KONNO, Katsu TAKEDA
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Publication number: 20140161278Abstract: A sound reproduction device includes a modulator having an output terminal for outputting a modulated carrier wave signal obtained by modulating a carrier wave signal in a ultrasonic band with an audible sound signal, a super-directivity loudspeaker connected to the output terminal, a capacitor connected between a ultrasonic wave source and a ground, first and second current detectors for detecting currents flowing through the super-directivity loudspeaker and the capacitor, a high-pass filter for outputting a filtered signal obtained by eliminating a low-frequency band component of the current detected by the first current detector, and a differential amplifier unit for outputting a signal corresponding to a difference between the filtered signal and the current detected by the second current detector. The ultrasonic wave source is configured to output the carrier wave signal such that the signal output from the differential amplifier unit is constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2012Publication date: June 12, 2014Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Fumiyasu Konno, Katsu Takeda
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Patent number: 8750543Abstract: Provided is a sound reproduction device including a loudspeaker and a superdirective speaker. The loudspeaker is configured so that a sound pressure of audible sound produced therefrom decreases as the sound travels farther away from the loudspeaker. The superdirective speaker is configured so that a sound pressure of audible sound produced therefrom has a peak at a predetermined distance from the superdirective speaker, and is configured to use an ultrasonic wave as a carrier wave. The loudspeaker and the superdirective speaker are positioned such that a loudspeaker sound field of the audible sound produced from the loudspeaker and a superdirective speaker sound field of the audible sound produced from the superdirective speaker overlap with each other at a position of a listener.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2011Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Katsu Takeda, Fumiyasu Konno, Susumu Fukushima, Rihito Shoji
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Publication number: 20140153750Abstract: In a directional loudspeaker, an audible sound signal that is modulated with a carrier wave in the ultrasonic wave band is input to a piezoelectric element, and thereby a diaphragm having the piezoelectric element is vibrated and a sound wave is generated. In such a directional loudspeaker, the diaphragm is fixed to a fixed part via a plurality of beams disposed along the outer circumference of the diaphragm.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Fumiyasu Konno, Katsu Takeda
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Patent number: 8666106Abstract: A sound reproducing device includes parametric speakers disposed to a display, a loudspeaker, drivers, a human-body sensor, and a controller. The loudspeaker has a wider directivity than the parametric speakers. The drivers change directions of the parametric speakers, respectively. The parametric speakers and the drivers constitute at least two parametric speaker units each composed of respective one of the parametric speakers and respective one of the drivers. The controller reproduces sound information based the number of persons in front of the display detected from an output from the human-body senor. The sound reproducing device reduces the possibility for a number of persons to hear the sound noisily, and allows drawing more attention to the content, e.g. an advertisement.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Fumiyasu Konno, Katsu Takeda
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Publication number: 20130182883Abstract: A sound reproduction device includes a superdirective speaker having a first surface, and an attachment part having a second surface opposed to the first surface. The first surface has a convex face, and the second surface has a concave face which can come into contact with the convex face. A curvature of the convex face is set larger than that of the concave face. A direction of emitting a sound wave of the superdirective speaker can be adjusted by making the convex face move along the concave face.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2011Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Katsu Takeda, Fumiyasu Konno, Rihito Shoji, Susumu Fukushima
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Publication number: 20130163795Abstract: Provided is a sound reproduction device including a loudspeaker and a superdirective speaker. The loudspeaker is configured so that a sound pressure of audible sound produced therefrom decreases as the sound travels farther away from the loudspeaker. The superdirective speaker is configured so that a sound pressure of audible sound produced therefrom has a peak at a predetermined distance from the superdirective speaker, and is configured to use an ultrasonic wave as a carrier wave. The loudspeaker and the superdirective speaker are positioned such that a loudspeaker sound field of the audible sound produced from the loudspeaker and a superdirective speaker sound field of the audible sound produced from the superdirective speaker overlap with each other at a position of a listener.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2011Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Katsu Takeda, Fumiyasu Konno, Susumu Fukushima, Rihito Shoji
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Publication number: 20130077803Abstract: A sound reproducing device includes parametric speakers disposed to a display, a loudspeaker, drivers, a human-body sensor, and a controller. The loudspeaker has a wider directivity than the parametric speakers. The drivers change directions of the parametric speakers, respectively. The parametric speakers and the drivers constitute at least two parametric speaker units each composed of respective one of the parametric speakers and respective one of the drivers. The controller reproduces sound information based the number of persons in front of the display detected from an output from the human-body senor. The sound reproducing device reduces the possibility for a number of persons to hear the sound noisily, and allows drawing more attention to the content, e.g. an advertisement.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: March 28, 2013Inventors: Fumiyasu KONNO, Katsu Takeda
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Patent number: 8155328Abstract: An sound reproducing apparatus is configured such that a correction amount is calculated on the basis of a masking model, determiner for determining a correction parameter correcting input signal so as to be natural for human ears to hear on the basis of the calculated correction amount is provided, and a characteristic of correction filter is changed on the basis of a result of determiner when inputting vehicle speed information.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2007Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kazuhisa Kotegawa, Fumiyasu Konno, Shinnosuke Nagasawa, Masahide Onishi
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Patent number: 8139798Abstract: A sound reproducing apparatus is provided with a circuit comprising a first secondary phase shifter in a front stage of at least one of channels among a first power amplifier, a second power amplifier and a third power amplifier, and a second secondary phase shifter and an adder in at least one of remaining channels for providing an output by adding output signals of a music signal source and the second secondary phase shifter. The apparatus of this structure eliminates phase interferences between a center speaker and right and left speakers by controlling sound waves generated by the center speaker, thereby achieving excellent reproduction of music.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2007Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Kazuhisa Kotegawa, Fumiyasu Konno, Shinnosuke Nagasawa
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Patent number: 8116488Abstract: The sound reproducing apparatus for use with a signal source comprises, a first output unit connected to the signal source via a first power amplifier, a first phase shifter connected to the signal source, a second output unit connected to the first phase shifter via a second power amplifier, a second phase shifter connected to the signal source, a third output unit connected to the second phase shifter via a third power amplifier, a fourth phase shifter connected to a third phase shifter, and a fourth output unit connected to the fourth phase shifter via a fourth power amplifier, wherein the first output unit and the second output unit are in right and left relation with each other, the third output unit and the fourth output unit are in right and left relation with each other, a group of the first output unit and the second output unit and a group of the third output unit and the fourth output unit are in front and rear relation with each other. The vehicle is equipped with the sound reproducing apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2006Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Shinnosuke Nagasawa, Kazuhisa Kotegawa, Fumiyasu Konno
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Publication number: 20110188672Abstract: A sound reproduction apparatus reproduces a sound wave at a listening position. The sound reproduction apparatus includes a compensation processing unit for compensating an audible band signal having an audible band frequency, a carrier signal oscillator for generating a carrier signal, a modulator for outputting a modulated signal obtained by modulating the carrier signal based on the audible band signal compensated by the compensation processing unit, and a sound emission unit for outputting a sound wave depending on the modulated signal output from the modulator. The compensation processing unit compensates the audible band signal based on a distance from the sound emission unit to the listening position. This sound reproduction apparatus can reproduce the original audible band signal with a high fidelity regardless of the listening position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2009Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATIONInventors: Masaki Tada, Katsu Takeda, Masashi Minakuchi, Fumiyasu Konno
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Publication number: 20110170712Abstract: In a sound reproducing apparatus, part of a frequency band where mode-coupled vibration can be excited is regarded as a carrier frequency. A frequency of mode coupling, with a low rate of change in vibration displacement with respect to the frequency, is regarded as a carrier signal so that a signal in an audible band which is outputted from an audible band signal source can be demodulated and reproduced with stable sound pressure in a broad frequency band.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2009Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Katsu Takeda, Masaki Tada, Masashi Minakuchi, Fumiyasu Konno
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Patent number: 7911350Abstract: A drunk driving detection system to be incorporated in a vehicle includes a steering wheel, a film, a pair of contact detection electrodes, an alcohol sensor, and a control circuit. The steering wheel is provided with an opening in a portion to be grasped by a driver. The film is liquid-impermeable and air-permeable, and covers the first opening. The contact detection electrodes are provided on the film. The alcohol sensor is provided in a space in communication with the opening. The control circuit is connected to the contact detection electrodes and the alcohol sensor, and measures the resistance between the contact detection electrodes. When the resistance is within a predetermined range, the control circuit determines that the driver is in contact with the film and detects an alcohol drinking condition of the driver based on the output from the alcohol sensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Rihito Shoji, Junichi Yukawa, Fumiyasu Konno, Toshio Ishizaki
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Publication number: 20090225995Abstract: An sound reproducing apparatus is configured such that a correction amount is calculated on the basis of a masking model, determiner for determining a correction parameter correcting input signal so as to be natural for human ears to hear on the basis of the calculated correction amount is provided, and a characteristic of correction filter is changed on the basis of a result of determiner when inputting vehicle speed information.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2007Publication date: September 10, 2009Inventors: Kazuhisa Kotegawa, Fumiyasu Konno, Shinnosuke Nagasawa, Masahide Onishi
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Publication number: 20090074212Abstract: The sound reproducing apparatus for use with a signal source comprises, a first output unit connected to the signal source via a first power amplifier, a first phase shifter connected to the signal source, a second output unit connected to the first phase shifter via a second power amplifier, a second phase shifter connected to the signal source, a third output unit connected to the second phase shifter via a third power amplifier, a fourth phase shifter connected to a third phase shifter, and a fourth output unit connected to the fourth phase shifter via a fourth power amplifier, wherein the first output unit and the second output unit are in right and left relation with each other, the third output unit and the fourth output unit are in right and left relation with each other, a group of the first output unit and the second output unit and a group of the third output unit and the fourth output unit are in front and rear relation with each other. The vehicle is equipped with the sound reproducing apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2006Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinnosuke Nagasawa, Kazuhisa Kotegawa, Fumiyasu Konno
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Publication number: 20080316037Abstract: A drunk driving detection system to be incorporated in a vehicle includes a steering wheel, a film, a pair of contact detection electrodes, an alcohol sensor, and a control circuit. The steering wheel is provided with an opening in a portion to be grasped by a driver. The film is liquid-impermeable and air-permeable, and covers the first opening. The contact detection electrodes are provided on the film. The alcohol sensor is provided in a space in communication with the opening. The control circuit is connected to the contact detection electrodes and the alcohol sensor, and measures the resistance between the contact detection electrodes. When the resistance is within a predetermined range, the control circuit determines that the driver is in contact with the film and detects an alcohol drinking condition of the driver based on the output from the alcohol sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2008Publication date: December 25, 2008Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Rihito Shoji, Junichi Yukawa, Fumiyasu Konno, Toshio Ishizaki