Patents by Inventor Hiroaki Kawai

Hiroaki Kawai 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: 20010015378
    Abstract: An apparatus for correcting a bar width comprises a detecting section calculating a reference bar width serving as a reference of bar widths, a first calculation section calculating an average value of a plurality of reference bar widths, a second calculation section calculating an error value between a bar width of a bar to be corrected and the reference bar width calculated by the detecting section, and a correcting section correcting the bar width of the bar to be corrected by using the calculated average value when the calculated error value is not less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Mitsuo Watanabe, Motohiko Itoh, Hiroaki Kawai, Isao Iwaguchi
  • Publication number: 20010013550
    Abstract: A bar code reader comprising a photodetecting section for receiving light reflected from bar codes scanned with scanning light and for outputting an electric signal corresponding to the intensity of light received, a demodulating section for demodulating section for demodulating the electric signal and for generating demodulation bar code data, a storage section for storing demodulation bar code data, a timing section which starts measuring a first time when the demodulation bar code data is stored in the storage section, an data judging section for judging which area, out of first and second areas to which the scanned range scanned with scanning light is divided, is scanned to generate the modulation bar code data demodulated by the demodulating section, a judging section for judging whether or not demodulated bar code data demodulated prior to demodulation bar code data and stored in the storage section coincides with the demodulation bar codes, and a judging section for judging that the demodulation bar co
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Mitsuo Watanabe, Motohiko Itoh, Hiroaki Kawai, Isao Iwaguchi
  • Publication number: 20010006192
    Abstract: A bar code data detecting section of a bar code reader scans a bar code twice or more and detects multiple pieces of bar code data, and a decoder decodes the bar code data, Then, a first judging section detects the overlapping part where first decoded data of the decoded in a first scanning trace and second decoded data in a second scanning trace overlap and judges whether or not the overlapping part is composed of a predetermined number of characters. If the overlapping part is composed of the predetermined number of characters, a second judging section judges whether or not the data in the overlapping part of the first decoded data is identical with that of the second decoded data. If the characters are the same, a fourth judging section judges whether or not the character just before the overlapping part of the first decoded data, the character just after the overlapping part of the second decoded data, and the characters constituting the overlapping part are all the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Watanabe, Motohiko Itoh, Hiroaki Kawai, Isao Iwaguchi
  • Patent number: 6249874
    Abstract: An information processing device connectable to another device via a transmission line includes an interface circuit connected to the transmission line, and a circuit which sends a signal to the transmission line and receive a signal from the transmission line. The interface circuit is supplied with electricity from the above another device. The above circuit is supplied with electricity from an external power source connected to the information processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Isao Iwaguchi, Shinichi Satoh, Hiroaki Kawai, Mitsuo Watanabe, Motohiko Itoh
  • Patent number: 6247646
    Abstract: A bar code reader for reading a bar code 30 composed of a plurality of white bars and a plurality of black bars, includes a generating unit 8 for generating bar width values respectively showing a width of the read bars, a judging unit 12 for judging based on the bar width values whether or not the read bar code satisfies a predetermined standard condition, and a converting unit 12 for converting the read bars into a plurality of bars in which a black-and-white-inverted bar is interposed between the conversion-target color bars. If the judging unit judges that the bar code does not satisfy the predetermined standard condition, the converting unit converts any one of the white and black bars constituting the bar code, and thereafter the judging unit makes a re-judgement. The bar code reader is capable of demodulating the bar code which has been abnormally read by presuming and compensating the bars read apparently as a single bar to a plurality of bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Isao Iwaguchi, Hiroaki Kawai, Mitsuo Watanabe, Kozo Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6222178
    Abstract: A proximity sensor receives light beams reflected from a goods. A proximity sensor control unit determines that the goods exists when a light quantity of the reflected light received by the proximity sensor exceeds a determination threshold value. The determination threshold value increases as elapsed time since the bar code was read last time becomes longer, and, as a result, a detection sensitivity decreases. A CPU restores a duty of irradiation of the laser beam back to 100% and resumes rotations of a motor for driving an operation optical system when the proximity sensor control unit determines that the goods exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kawai, Shinichi Satoh, Motohiko Itoh, Mitsuo Watanabe, Isao Iwaguchi, Ichiro Shinoda
  • Patent number: 6206286
    Abstract: A double-reading preventive control processing unit, when demodulated data corresponding to a whole bar code is obtained in an M10-OK buffer, notifies a reading-OK processing unit of this demodulated data on condition that a double-reading preventive timer is not actuated, stores a single-reading multi-stage buffer with this demodulated data, and actuates the double-reading preventive timer. The single-reading multi-stage buffer is capable of storing plural demodulated data in sequence from the latest one, of which the reading-OK processing unit has been notified. When demodulated data is newly obtained before the double-reading preventive timer makes a time-up, the double-reading preventive control unit checks whether or not the new demodulated data is identical with the demodulated data stored in the single-reading multi-stage buffer. When identical, this new piece of demodulated data is discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Watanabe, Isao Iwaguchi, Shinichi Sato, Hiroaki Kawai, Motohiko Itoh
  • Patent number: 6189796
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively reading a bar code in accordance with first and second scan patterns emitted by a scan unit. A button is manually operable by an operator for switching from the first scan pattern to a second scan pattern. A controller controls the scanning unit to switch from the first scan pattern to the second scan pattern, responsive to operation of the button by the operator and, a predetermined time after relative of the button, to switch from the second scan pattern to the first scan pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Motohiko Itoh, Shinichi Satoh, Mitsuo Watanabe, Hiroaki Kawai, Isao Iwaguchi
  • Patent number: 6189794
    Abstract: A bar-code reader having a photoelectric conversion unit for converting reflected light from a bar code into an electric signal and a changing point detecting unit for detecting, from the electric signal generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, a changing point at which a white stripe is changed to a black stripe in the bar code wherein the bar code is read based on a plurality of changing points detected by the changing point detecting unit. The bar-code reader includes a determination unit for determining, based on measurement of a distance between changing points, whether a changing point is detected as a true changing point at which a white stripe or a black stripe is changed to a black stripe or a white stripe in a bar code or as a false changing point; and a correcting unit for correcting the changing point detected as the false changing point to the true detecting point based on the changing point determined as the true changing point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Isao Iwaguchi, Shinichi Satoh, Hiroaki Kawai, Mitsuo Watanabe, Motohiko Itoh
  • Patent number: 6145744
    Abstract: A method of the invention reads a bar code based on bar-code data obtained by scanning the bar code with light. The method includes the steps of a) obtaining bar-code data, b) obtaining a sum of bar-data widths with respect to a predetermined number of bar data provided in at least one of a preceding portion and a following portion of the bar-code data, c) repeating the steps a) and b) once to obtain another sum, and d) making a comparison of the sum with another sum. The methods further includes a step of accepting the bar-code data as valid data when a result of the comparison satisfies a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Motohiko Itoh, Shinichi Satoh, Mitsuo Watanabe, Hiroaki Kawai, Isao Iwaguchi
  • Patent number: 6142377
    Abstract: A method of the invention reads a bar code based on bar-code data obtained by scanning the bar code with light. The method includes the steps of a) obtaining bar-code data, b) obtaining a sum of bar-data widths with respect to a predetermined number of bar data provided in at least one of a preceding portion and a following portion of the bar-code data, c) repeating the steps a) and b) once to obtain another sum, and d) making a comparison of the sum with another sum. The methods further includes a step of accepting the bar-code data as valid data when a result of the comparison satisfies a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Motohiko Itoh, Shinichi Satoh, Mitsuo Watanabe, Hiroaki Kawai, Isao Iwaguchi
  • Patent number: 6109099
    Abstract: The apparatus for detecting the air pressure of the tire includes an oscillating electric signal output section for outputting an oscillating electric signal including a vibration frequency component of a tire of a vehicle. A wavelet transformation section is provided for performing wavelet transformation of the oscillating electric signal outputted by the oscillating electric signal output section. A constant extraction section is provided for calculating mean values of the wavelet coefficients calculated by the wavelet transformation section at every predetermined interval of time, for obtaining an approximate curve of the second or greater order by a method of least squares using the mean values of the wavelet coefficients at the respective predetermined frequencies at every predetermined interval of time and for extracting a constant of the approximate curve. An air pressure estimating section is provided for estimating the air pressure of the tire based on the constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kawai, Katsu Hattori
  • Patent number: 6095420
    Abstract: A bar code reader decodes a bar code in different directions if the bar code contains special characters whose bar widths have been corrected. The bar code reader compares the decoded results in the different directions with each other, to improve the bar code reading reliability. If the decoded results agree with each other, the results are accepted, and if not, they are discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kawai, Shinichi Sato, Motohiko Itoh, Mitsuo Watanabe, Isao Iwaguchi
  • Patent number: 6070801
    Abstract: Demodulated data B containing the whole of a right block and a part of a left block is obtained after demodulated data A containing a start guard bar and based on a division reading process has been at first obtained. When demodulated data C containing an end guard bar and numerical data of three characters is thereafter obtained, a CPU aligns the demodulated data C with modulus 10-OK data obtained by synthesizing the demodulated data A with the demodulated data B on the basis of the end guard bar, and compares tenth through twelfth characters (of the numerical data) of both of data with each other. As a result of this comparison, if the tenth through twelfth characters (of the numerical data) of both of data are coincident with each other, the CPU increments an identical character counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Watanabe, Isao Iwaguchi, Shinichi Sato, Hiroaki Kawai, Motohiko Itoh
  • Patent number: 6059190
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus has a plurality of states, and includes a detection mechanism for detecting an external light and outputting a detection signal indicative of an intensity of the external light, a transition mechanism for making a state transition from a first state to a second state which is different from the first state and vice versa depending on the detection signal, and a varying mechanism for varying a light detection sensitivity of said detection mechanism depending on the detection signal when the state transition is made by said transition mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Motohiko Itoh, Shinichi Satoh, Hiroaki Kawai, Ichiro Shinoda, Mitsuo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6032862
    Abstract: The present invention introduce a bar code reader capable of inferring data coded into one character failing in demodulation when one character can not be demodulated. The CPU demodulates the data obtained by reading bar code for each data character. Concerning the data character failing in demodulation, bar width data for four bars before demodulation is stored in the temporary saving buffer. When 11 data characters are successful in demodulation, the CPU calculates back the modulus 10 check based on the demodulated data corresponding to 11 data characters, and infers a value of the demodulated data corresponding to the data character failing in demodulation. The CPU, when the data character failing in demodulation is contained in the left data block, infers an ODD/EVEN configuration of the demodulated data corresponding to the data character failing in demodulation based on five pieces of demodulated data corresponding to data characters successful in demodulation in the left data block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Watanabe, Motohiko Itoh, Hiroaki Kawai, Isao Iwaguchi, Shinichi Sato
  • Patent number: 6032865
    Abstract: A method of the invention reads a bar code based on bar-code data obtained by scanning the bar code with light. The method includes the steps of a) obtaining bar-code data, b) obtaining a sum of bar-data widths with respect to a predetermined number of bar data provided in at least one of a preceding portion and a following portion of the bar-code data, c) repeating the steps a) and b) once to obtain another sum, and d) making a comparison of the sum with another sum. The methods further includes a step of accepting the bar-code data as valid data when a result of the comparison satisfies a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Motohiko Itoh, Shinichi Satoh, Mitsuo Watanabe, Hiroaki Kawai, Isao Iwaguchi
  • Patent number: 6006992
    Abstract: A CPU deals, as valid data, with demodulated data obtained by synthesizing demodulated data obtained by reading a first data block of an upper stage with demodulated data obtained by reading a second data block of the upper stage, and demodulated data obtained by synthesizing demodulated data obtained by reading a first data block of a lower stage with demodulated data obtained by reading a second data block of the lower stage, as far as both of the demodulated data obtained by reading the first data block of the upper stage of two column codes structured by arranging WPC codes up and down at two columns and the demodulated data obtained by reading the first data block of the lower stage, contain a portion corresponding to data characters of the second data block, and as far as these sets of demodulated data are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Watanabe, Isao Iwaguchi, Shinichi Sato, Hiroaki Kawai, Motohiko Itoh
  • Patent number: 5979765
    Abstract: A bar-code reader and a bar-code reading method each of which can perform an accurate, quick reading operation. The bar-code reader scans a bar-code with electromagnetic radioactive rays and then extracts data regarding a bar-width thereof based on the reflected rays; demodulates the bar-width data and creates the demodulated data; judges the presence or absence of a bar-code reproducible combination in the demodulated data and judges the type of combination when the reproducible combination exists; and synthesizes the demodulated data or the character forming the demodulated data according to the type of combination. The bar-code reader and bar-code reading method can be applicable to scanners such as POS systems used in supermarkets, distribution industries, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Watanabe, Ichiro Shinoda, Shinichi Sato, Isao Iwaguchi, Hiroaki Kawai, Motohiko Itoh
  • Patent number: 5965864
    Abstract: A slicing ratio controlling circuit for controlling the ratio of a slice level used when binarizing an input signal with respect to the signal to be sliced, including a differentiating unit for differentiating the input signal; a peak holding unit for receiving the differentiated signal from the differentiating unit and holding its peak level so as to generate a slice level signal; and a constant ratio enabling unit for making the ratio of the slice level signal from the peak holding unit with respect to the differentiated signal constituting the signal to be sliced a constant ratio regardless of the magnitude of the differentiated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Isao Iwaguchi, Hiroaki Kawai, Mitsuo Watanabe, Motohiko Itoh, Shinichi Satoh