Patents by Inventor Hidetoshi Amaya

Hidetoshi Amaya 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: 8117683
    Abstract: Provided are a toilet seat device saving energy and accurately stabilizing the temperature of a seating section at a predetermined level in a short time, and a toilet apparatus having the same. A control section adjusts the temperature of a toilet seat section to 18° C. when a heating function is turned on, and during a standby period D1, the control section performs low electric power drive of a lamp heater provided at the toilet seat section. The control section starts 600 W drive of the lamp heater at time t1 after the control section detects user's entry into a room, and the control section maintains the 600 W drive during an inrush current reduction period D2. The control section starts 1200 W drive of the lamp heater at time t2 and maintains the 1200 W drive during a first temperature rise period D3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuuji Yamamoto, Hidetoshi Amaya, Shinji Fujii, Noboru Okui, Hiroshi Nagasato, Kenji Yoshinaga, Masahiro Takiguchi, Kazuya Kondoh, Eiichi Tanaka, Mitsuhiro Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20090025131
    Abstract: Provided are a toilet seat device saving energy and accurately stabilizing the temperature of a seating section at a predetermined level in a short time, and a toilet apparatus having the same. A control section adjusts the temperature of a toilet seat section to 18° C. when a heating function is turned on, and during a standby period D1, the control section performs low electric power drive of a lamp heater provided at the toilet seat section. The control section starts 600 W drive of the lamp heater at time t1 after the control section detects user's entry into a room, and the control section maintains the 600 W drive during an inrush current reduction period D2. The control section starts 1200 W drive of the lamp heater at time t2 and maintains the 1200 W drive during a first temperature rise period D3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuji Yamamoto, Hidetoshi Amaya, Shinji Fujii, Noboru Okui, Hiroshi Nagasato, Kenji Yoshinaga, Masahiro Takiguchi, Kazuya Kondoh, Eiichi Tanaka, Mitsuhiro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 6441571
    Abstract: Vibrating linear actuator and method of operating same. The actuator of the invention includes a stator, a spring vibration system having a moving portion with a magnet and further having a spring configured to support the moving portion. The actuator further includes an electromagnetic coil configured to receive an electrical current, whereupon the coil moves the moving portion against a load supplied by the spring to reciprocally move the moving portion, a frequency detector configured to detect a natural frequency of the spring vibration system, and a frequency controller configured to determine a frequency of an electrical current pulse, the pulse to be received by the coil, in accordance with a detection result of the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Ibuki, Hidetoshi Amaya, Toyokatsu Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6351089
    Abstract: A control system for a linear vibration motor capable of eliminating necessity of a separate sensor of detecting the motion of the motor. The linear vibration motor includes a stator provided with a winding, and a vibrator provided with a permanent magnet. The winding is fed with a drive current to generate a magnetic field which interacts with the permanent magnet to cause the vibrator to reciprocate linearly relative to the stator for producing a vibration. The control system includes a controller which detects an ongoing amplitude, i.e., the motion represented by the displacement, speed, or acceleration of the vibrator and provides ON-periods of feeding the driving current to the winding in a varying amount based upon the ongoing amplitude detected in order to keep a vibration amplitude of the vibrator constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Ibuki, Hidetoshi Amaya, Toyokatsu Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6181090
    Abstract: A method for driving a linear oscillating motor and a linear oscillating motor are provided. The motor includes a fixed magnetic member, a movable member having a magnet and being supported to oscillate relative to the fixed magnetic member, a detector that detects displacement of the movable member, and a control that oscillates the movable member by sending drive current to a coil of the fixed magnetic member. The method includes controlling, during a first half-period that occurs within a full amplitude period of the movable member, the drive current based upon the output of the detector. The method also includes controlling, during a second half-period that occurs within a fill amplitude period of the movable member, the drive current based upon a fixed drive current waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Amaya, Yasuo Ibuki, Toyokatsu Okamoto
  • Patent number: 5955799
    Abstract: A linear vibration motor which includes a vibration system, an electromagnetic driver, a detection system, and a control system. The vibration system includes a driven member or reciprocator which is mounted to a magnetic member for reciprocating movement. The amplitude of the reciprocating movement varies as an inverse function of load on the motor. The electromagnetic driver includes a coil and drives the vibration system by applying an electromagnetic force to the magnetic member, the electromagnetic force being produced by a driving current flowing through the coil. The detection system detects at least one characteristic of the vibration system that is related to a characteristic frequency of the vibration system, and produces a feedback signal indicative of a value of the at least one characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Amaya, Takio Maekawa, Toyokatsu Okamoto, Yasuo Ibuki
  • Patent number: 5736797
    Abstract: A linear oscillating motor capable of assuring a consistent and effective feedback control of keeping a constant oscillation amplitude with varying load conditions. The linear oscillating motor comprises an oscillator carrying a permanent magnet, and a stator with an electromagnet. The electromagnet is supplied with an electric power to develop an electromagnetic drive force of moving the oscillator in a linear direction relative to the stator. A spring is provided to apply a restoring force to the oscillator for providing a linear oscillating motion to the oscillator. A photo-sensor monitors the linear motion of the oscillator and outputs a signal to a reverse-point detector which determines right and left reverse points of the oscillator. A controller applies the electric power to the electromagnet at the drive points respectively defined subsequent in time to the reverse points and in a varying amount for keeping a constant oscillation amplitude of the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryo Motohashi, Masao Tanahashi, Hidetoshi Amaya, Takio Maekawa, Toyokatsu Okamoto, Yasuo Ibuki, Claude Oudet, Daniel Prudham