Patents by Inventor Hideki Arimoto

Hideki Arimoto 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: 10848632
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a normal mode and a power saving mode as a power consumption mode. In the normal mode in which an image processor requires electric power supply, a direct voltage output by an AC-DC converter is supplied to the image processor. A voltage according to a power feed request from an external device connected to an USB connector is output by a variable output DC-DC converter via a power-feed terminal. In the power saving mode in which the electric power supply for the image processor in unnecessary, the voltage according to the power feed request from the external device connected to the USB connector is output by the AC-DC converter without routing through the variable output DC-DC converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsubasa Horie, Hideki Arimoto
  • Patent number: 10819239
    Abstract: A switched-mode power supply includes a transformer, a switching element, a switching controller, a voltage generator circuit, an overvoltage protection circuit, and a load increase circuit. The overvoltage protection circuit is configured to, when a first DC voltage outputted from the voltage generator circuit is below a predetermined voltage, apply a first drive voltage to an input terminal of the switching controller, and to, when the first DC voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage, apply a second drive voltage, which is different from the first drive voltage, to the input terminal, whereby the switching controller stops controlling switching operation. The load increase circuit is configured to, when the output voltage exceeds a threshold voltage, flow a current from the secondary side, thereby increasing a load applied to the secondary side. The threshold voltage is less than a rated voltage of the transformer and greater than the target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Ueno, Katsumi Inukai, Hideki Arimoto
  • Publication number: 20200106910
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a normal mode and a power saving mode as a power consumption mode. In the normal mode in which an image processor requires electric power supply, a direct voltage output by an AC-DC converter is supplied to the image processor. A voltage according to a power feed request from an external device connected to an USB connector is output by a variable output DC-DC converter via a power-feed terminal. In the power saving mode in which the electric power supply for the image processor in unnecessary, the voltage according to the power feed request from the external device connected to the USB connector is output by the AC-DC converter without routing through the variable output DC-DC converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Tsubasa Horie, Hideki Arimoto
  • Publication number: 20190267902
    Abstract: A switched-mode power supply includes a transformer, a switching element, a switching controller, a voltage generator circuit, an overvoltage protection circuit, and a load increase circuit. The overvoltage protection circuit is configured to, when a first DC voltage outputted from the voltage generator circuit is below a predetermined voltage, apply a first drive voltage to an input terminal of the switching controller, and to, when the first DC voltage exceeds the predetermined voltage, apply a second drive voltage, which is different from the first drive voltage, to the input terminal, whereby the switching controller stops controlling switching operation. The load increase circuit is configured to, when the output voltage exceeds a threshold voltage, flow a current from the secondary side, thereby increasing a load applied to the secondary side. The threshold voltage is less than a rated voltage of the transformer and greater than the target voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Shiro UENO, Katsumi INUKAI, Hideki ARIMOTO
  • Patent number: 10181784
    Abstract: A power supply system includes: a switching power supply configured to output a direct current; a control circuit configured to output a switching signal; an abnormality detection circuit configured to output an abnormality signal; an operation control unit connected to the control circuit and the abnormality detection circuit and configured to output an operation control signal, and a power supply control circuit configured to, when a first operation control signal is input, switch a state of the switching power supply to an operation state or a stop state. The operation control unit outputs the first operation control signal to the power supply control circuit when the switching signal is input. The operation control unit outputs a second operation control signal to the power supply control circuit when the abnormality signal is input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Arimoto, Shinya Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10171002
    Abstract: A switching power supply includes: a main power supply; a rectifying-and-smoothing circuit configured to rectify and smooth an AC voltage; a transformer connected to the rectifying-and-smoothing circuit; a first switching element connected to a primary coil of the transformer; a switch controller configured to perform switching-control the first switching element to oscillate the primary side of the transformer, thereby inducing a voltage to a secondary side of the transformer; and a second switching element connected in series with the smoothing capacitor of the rectifying-and-smoothing circuit and configured to switch between on-and-off states of energization by a control signal that is to be output from the switch controller, wherein the switch controller is configured to limit an on-time period of the second switching element by the control signal during an output stop mode in which the oscillation of the transformer is to be stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki Arimoto
  • Publication number: 20180269794
    Abstract: A switching power supply includes: a main power supply; a rectifying-and-smoothing circuit configured to rectify and smooth an AC voltage; a transformer connected to the rectifying-and-smoothing circuit; a first switching element connected to a primary coil of the transformer; a switch controller configured to perform switching-control the first switching element to oscillate the primary side of the transformer, thereby inducing a voltage to a secondary side of the transformer; and a second switching element connected in series with the smoothing capacitor of the rectifying-and-smoothing circuit and configured to switch between on-and-off states of energization by a control signal that is to be output from the switch controller, wherein the switch controller is configured to limit an on-time period of the second switching element by the control signal during an output stop mode in which the oscillation of the transformer is to be stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki ARIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20180095403
    Abstract: A power supply system includes: a switching power supply configured to output a direct current; a control circuit configured to output a switching signal; an abnormality detection circuit configured to output an abnormality signal; an operation control unit connected to the control circuit and the abnormality detection circuit and configured to output an operation control signal, and a power supply control circuit configured to, when a first operation control signal is input, switch a state of the switching power supply to an operation state or a stop state. The operation control unit outputs the first operation control signal to the power supply control circuit when the switching signal is input. The operation control unit outputs a second operation control signal to the power supply control circuit when the abnormality signal is input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki ARIMOTO, Shinya NAKAGAWA
  • Patent number: 9417592
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may includes a central processing device, a first switching regulator and a second switching regulator. The central processing device may perform information processing associated with image formation. The first switching regulator may receive an input of a first voltage and output a second voltage which is lower than the first voltage. The second switching regulator may receive an input of the second voltage and output a third voltage which is lower than the second voltage. The third voltage may be input to the central processing device. A first switching frequency which is a switching frequency of the first switching regulator may be lower than a second switching frequency which is a switching frequency of the second switching regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenobu Kondo, Isao Kubo, Hideki Arimoto, Kyoichi Morita, Takahiro Ikeno
  • Patent number: 9186889
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may be configured to enter a first state where electric power is supplied from a power supply and a second state where no electric power is supplied from the power supply. A capacitor may be connected to the power supply, and may be charged by the power supply in the first state. A controller may be connected to the capacitor, and may operate with electric power supplied from the capacitor in the second state. The controller may operate with electric power supplied from the power supply in the first state. The controller may cause the image forming apparatus to enter the first state upon detecting that the image forming apparatus is in a predetermined state. The controller may acquire the related information and may cause the image forming apparatus to enter the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao Kubo, Hidenobu Kondo, Kyoichi Morita, Hideki Arimoto, Takahiro Ikeno
  • Patent number: 8941262
    Abstract: A power supply device having a first load operating with a first voltage in a normal operation mode, a second load operating with a second voltage lower than the first voltage in the normal operation mode, and a third load operating with the second voltage in the normal operation mode and a power-saving mode. An auxiliary second-voltage generating circuit configured to, when a main supply voltage is supplied from a main power supply circuit and a primary second-voltage generating circuit does not generate the second voltage with a third-load electric path for carrying therethrough the main supply voltage from the main power supply circuit to the third load without passing through the primary second-voltage generating circuit being broken by a switching circuit, generate the second voltage from the main supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Arimoto
  • Patent number: 8913291
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a display and a display controller that controls the display to display thereon a page. When a first processing is currently performed on the page, the page includes: a first part, on which the first processing has not yet been performed; and a second part, on which the first processing has already been performed. When a second processing is currently performed on the page, the page includes: a third part, on which the second processing has not yet been performed; and a fourth part, on which the second processing has already been performed. The display controller controls the display to display the first part and the second part in different display modes. The display controller controls the display to display the third part and the fourth part in different display modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Arimoto
  • Patent number: 8812891
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a control unit, one or more motors, and a plurality of power supply management devices each of which includes one or more driving circuits for driving the motors, one or more power supply circuits for supplying electricity to the control unit and an external device, a signal output unit issuing a halting signal to the other power supply management devices in response to detection of an abnormality in the power supply management device, a halting unit halting an operation of the power supply management device in response to receipt of a halting signal from one of the other power supply management devices and detection of the abnormality in the power supply management device, and a restoring unit restoring the halted operation of the power supply management device in response to a predetermined restoring condition being satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Arimoto, Hidenobu Kondo, Kyoichi Morita, Takahiko Watari, Takahiro Ikeno
  • Publication number: 20130257929
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may includes a central processing device, a first switching regulator and a second switching regulator. The central processing device may perform information processing associated with image formation. The first switching regulator may receive an input of a first voltage and output a second voltage which is lower than the first voltage. The second switching regulator may receive an input of the second voltage and output a third voltage which is lower than the second voltage. The third voltage may be input to the central processing device. A first switching frequency which is a switching frequency of the first switching regulator may be lower than a second switching firequency which is a switching frequency of the second switching regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidenobu Kondo, Isao Kubo, Hideki Arimoto, Kyoichi Morita, Takahiro Ikeno
  • Publication number: 20130257972
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus may be configured to enter a first state where electric power is supplied from a power supply and a second state where no electric power is supplied from the power supply. A capacitor may be connected to the power supply, and may be charged by the power supply in the first state. A controller may be connected to the capacitor, and may operate with electric power supplied from the capacitor in the second state. The controller may operate with electric power supplied from the power supply in the first state. The controller may cause the image forming apparatus to enter the first state upon detecting that the image forming apparatus is in a predetermined state. The controller may acquire the related information and may cause the image forming apparatus to enter the second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao KUBO, Hidenobu KONDO, Kyoichi MORITA, Hideki ARIMOTO, Takahiro IKENO
  • Publication number: 20130135657
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a display and a display controller that controls the display to display thereon a page. When a first processing is currently performed on the page, the page includes: a first part, on which the first processing has not yet been performed; and a second part, on which the first processing has already been performed. When a second processing is currently performed on the page, the page includes: a third part, on which the second processing has not yet been performed; and a fourth part, on which the second processing has already been performed. The display controller controls the display to display the first part and the second part in different display modes. The display controller controls the display to display the third part and the fourth part in different display modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki ARIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8363266
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a display and a display controller that controls the display to display thereon a page. When a first processing is currently performed on the page, the page includes: a first part, on which the first processing has not yet been performed; and a second part, on which the first processing has already been performed. When a second processing is currently performed on the page, the page includes: a third part, on which the second processing has not yet been performed; and a fourth part, on which the second processing has already been performed. The display controller controls the display to display the first part and the second part in different display modes. The display controller controls the display to display the third part and the fourth part in different display modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Arimoto
  • Patent number: 8301134
    Abstract: There is provided a main device of a cordless telephone system that performs communication with at least one additional device, each of which includes a search unit that intermittently searches for a radio wave generated from the main device, and a search stopping unit that stops execution of the search unit after a state in which the search unit does not receive a radio wave continues for a predetermined time. The main device includes a radio wave generating unit, an operation stopping unit that stops an operation of the radio wave generating unit, and a temporary returning unit that temporality recovers the operation of the radio wave generating unit and stops the operation of the radio wave generating unit after the additional device executes multiple searches by using the search unit after stopping the operation of the radio wave generating unit, but before the predetermined time elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Arimoto
  • Patent number: 8212786
    Abstract: An image data identifying unit identifies at least two pieces of image data for images displayed in display regions detected by a detecting unit. The at least two pieces of image data includes a first image data firstly identified by the image data identifying unit. An image data selecting unit selects or deselects the at least two pieces of image data identified by the image data identifying unit. A selection data storing unit stores selection data for each of the plurality of pieces of image data read by a reading unit. The selection data indicates whether each of the plurality of pieces of image data is in a selected state or a deselected state by the image data selecting unit. A determining unit determines whether the first image data is in the selected state or the deselected state based on the selection data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Arimoto
  • Publication number: 20120159228
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a control unit, one or more motors, and a plurality of power supply management devices each of which includes one or more driving circuits for driving the motors, one or more power supply circuits for supplying electricity to the control unit and an external device, a signal output unit issuing a halting signal to the other power supply management devices in response to detection of an abnormality in the power supply management device, a halting unit halting an operation of the power supply management device in response to receipt of a halting signal from one of the other power supply management devices and detection of the abnormality in the power supply management device, and a restoring unit restoring the halted operation of the power supply management device in response to a predetermined restoring condition being satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki ARIMOTO, Hidenobu KONDO, Kyoichi MORITA, Takahiko WATARI, Takahiro IKENO