Patents by Inventor Haruo Oba

Haruo Oba 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: 20040048570
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program which allow a user to immediately and easily know whether or not transmission of desired data is completed and the direction of transmission of the data. Readers/writers 23-1 through 23-4 and RF tags 24-1 through 24-4 detect an electronic device which is placed adjacent thereto and the direction in which the electronic device is placed. The readers/writers 23-1 through 23-4 and the RF tags 24-1 through 24-4 obtain identification information of the electronic device when the electronic device placed adjacent thereto is detected. A communication unit 22 communicates with the electronic device over a network based on the identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Taku Sugawara, Takeo Inagaki, Junichi Rekimoto, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Yuji Ayatsuka
  • Publication number: 20040024884
    Abstract: The present invention is an information processing apparatus which obtains identification information of an electronic device and makes communication with the electronic device via a network based on the identification information. When a portable telephone (11) is placed on an input display section (2) of a personal computer (1), a reader/writer built in the personal computer (1) reads a telephone number of the portable telephone (11) stored in an RF tag built in the portable telephone (11). Based on the telephone number, a telephone line is connected between the portable telephone (11) and the personal computer (1). Data is interchanged between the portable telephone (11) and the personal computer (1) via the telephone line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Junichi A Rekimoto, Yuji Ayatsuka, Nobuyuki Matsushita, Eduardo A. Sciammarella, Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: 6657853
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is disclosed which occupies a minimized space when it is not used. The information processing apparatus includes a stand including a base and a support arm extending uprightly from the base, a display unit supported for pivotal motion on the support arm, and a keyboard having a plurality of operation keys provided thereon. The support arm includes an upper arm portion and a lower arm portion. The upper arm portion has an upper pivotal fulcrum at an upper end portion thereof for supporting the display unit for pivotal motion, and the lower arm portion has a lower pivotal fulcrum provided at an upper end portion thereof for supporting the upper arm portion for pivotal motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Hiroji Yoshino, Yoshimasa Hosono, Koji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6574488
    Abstract: The invention is intended to allow a plurality of users to share a single apparatus while securing the privacy of each user. A terminal is made portable and detachable from a base. Data exchange by radio is made possible between the base and the terminal, and E-mail or facsimile data that is received by the base through a telephone circuit is stored in the terminal. A user can remove the terminal from the base and carry it to his room, and can display a stored E-mail message or facsimile data there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Kunihito Sawai
  • Patent number: 6554434
    Abstract: An interactive projection system for displaying an image on a planar surface includes a base, a projector, a convex mirror, and at least one support. The base is disposed on the planer surface. The projector is housed in the base. The projector has an image projecting portion that projects an image along a projection path away from the projector. The at least one support is connected to the base and supports the convex mirror at a position along the projection path so as to face the image projecting portion of the projector and the planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eduardo A. Sciammarella, Haruo Oba
  • Publication number: 20030007135
    Abstract: An interactive projection system for displaying an image on a planar surface includes a base, a projector, a convex mirror, and at least one support. The base is disposed on the planer surface. The projector is housed in the base. The projector has an image projecting portion that projects an image along a projection path away from the projector. The at least one support is connected to the base and supports the convex mirror at a position along the projection path so as to face the image projecting portion of the projector and the planar surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Eduardo A. Sciammarella, Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: 6441828
    Abstract: In an image display apparatus, information on a direction in which an image is to be displayed on a display panel is recorded in a memory card, and a to-be-displayed image signal corresponding to the displaying-direction information read from the memory card is displayed on the display panel. The displaying-direction information relates to a direction in which the image is to be displayed on the display panel. More particularly, it is information indicative of a direction designated by the user of the apparatus pressing a rotate button on an operation panel and in which image information initially read from the memory card is displayed on the display panel. Pressing the rotate button a maximum of three times for one image will rotate the image clockwise, for example, whereby it is possible to designate a desired direction in which the image is to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Kunihito Sawai, Yoshiaki Inoue, Iwami Tsujimura
  • Publication number: 20020113778
    Abstract: An interactive-type data system comprising an integration of instinctive operability of the real objects with multiple purpose functions is disclosed. Concretely, by utilizing a transparent tile incorporating a wireless tag as a unit of interface, a plurality of tiles are disposed on a flat display surface or a tablet. The computing system reads identification data contained in each wireless tag and then activates a corresponding processing operation. For example, the computing system accesses such data resources related to tiles or activates a corresponding function or application program. Further, based on physical positional relationship between plural tiles, it is possible to integrally combine basic capability provided for by individual tiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: 6430037
    Abstract: In a computer unit having a keyboard and a keyboard cover, the stowing efficiency of the keyboard is improved by providing a concavity on the other surface of a keyboard opposite to one surface on which various control keys are arranged to enter various commands to receive a base that supports the display panel of the display. By inserting the base into the concavity, the keyboard can be stowed effectively using the base without using any storing member. Thus, the computer unit in which the stowing efficiency of the keyboard is improved can be accomplished. Moreover, a keyboard cover is provided for the keyboard which can be stowed effectively using the base of the display unit, so that the keyboard cover can be integrally stowed with the keyboard without a special stowing space. As a result, the keyboard cover in which the stowing efficiency is improved can be accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Kunihito Sawai, Hiroji Yoshino
  • Publication number: 20020068985
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus is disclosed which occupies a minimized space when it is not used. The information processing apparatus includes a stand including a base and a support arm extending uprightly from the base, a display unit supported for pivotal motion on the support arm, and a keyboard having a plurality of operation keys provided thereon. The support arm includes an upper arm portion and a lower arm portion. The upper arm portion has an upper pivotal fulcrum at an upper end portion thereof for supporting the display unit for pivotal motion, and the lower arm portion has a lower pivotal fulcrum provided at an upper end portion thereof for supporting the upper arm portion for pivotal motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Hiroji Yoshino, Yoshimasa Hosono, Koji Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20020033848
    Abstract: A device for managing image and audio files displays thumbnails, which are representative of the files, on a screen in different arrangements, depending on the selected layout and order. When the user enters input to indicates that he or she wishes to browse through the thumbnails, the thumbnails move across the screen in sequence, following a path through a focus outline in the center of the screen. The path followed by the thumbnails depends on the selected layout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: Eduardo Agusto Sciammarella, Junichi Rekimoto, Haruo Oba, Makoto Imamura, Hideyuki Agata, Masakazu Hayashi, Masato Kuninori
  • Publication number: 20010000249
    Abstract: The invention is intended to allow a plurality of users to share a single apparatus while securing the privacy of each user. A terminal is made portable and detachable from a base. Data exchange by radio is made possible between the base and the terminal, and E-mail or facsimile data that is received by the base through a telephone circuit is stored in the terminal. A user can remove the terminal from the base and carry it to his room, and can display a stored E-mail message or facsimile data there.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: April 12, 2001
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Kunihito Sawai
  • Publication number: 20010000169
    Abstract: The invention is intended to allow a plurality of users to share a single apparatus while securing the privacy of each user. A terminal is made portable and detachable from a base. Data exchange by radio is made possible between the base and the terminal, and E-mail or facsimile data that is received by the base through a telephone circuit is stored in the terminal. A user can remove the terminal from the base and carry it to his room, and can display a stored E-mail message or facsimile data there.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: April 5, 2001
    Inventors: Haruo Oba, Kunihito Sawai
  • Patent number: D438868
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: D439902
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: D441730
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: D453019
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: D453022
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: D463440
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Haruo Oba
  • Patent number: D486514
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Haruo Oba