Patents by Inventor Hirofumi Matsumoto

Hirofumi Matsumoto 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: 11967976
    Abstract: To reduce data amount while ensuring tactile reproducibility of a two-dimensional tactile signal, and improve the efficiency of a system related to tactile reproduction. Coding is performed to compress information amount by orthogonally transforming a two-dimensional tactile signal based on a time signal. By orthogonally transforming a two-dimensional tactile signal based on a time signal, it is possible to compress information amount by removing frequency components that are difficult for humans to perceive, as in the case of an image signal, for example. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce data amount while ensuring tactile reproducibility of a two-dimensional tactile signal, and improve the efficiency of a system related to tactile reproduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Matsumoto, Shiro Suzuki, Shuichiro Nishigori, Hirofumi Takeda
  • Publication number: 20240122260
    Abstract: An inhaler device configured to consume an accumulated capacity to contribute to generation of aerosol or aerosol imparted with flavor, a sensor configured to detect a predefined variable, an interface configured to make a notification to an inhaler of the aerosol, and a controller configured to cause the interface to function in a first mode when a detected or estimated capacity is smaller than a threshold and the variable satisfies a predefined condition for requesting the generation of the aerosol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Manabu TAKEUCHI, Hirofumi MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 11962433
    Abstract: A switch device includes a plurality of communication ports; a switch unit configured to relay a frame, which has been transmitted from a function unit and to which information including an ID of a VLAN is added, to another function unit via a communication port; and a duplication unit configured to, when the diagnosis device is connected to another switch device, duplicate the frame to be relayed via a designated communication port among the plurality of communication ports, and generate a duplicate frame for diagnosis that is a frame obtained by adding, to a duplicate frame obtained through the duplication, specific information indicating that the duplicate frame for diagnosis should be transmitted to the diagnosis device. The switch unit outputs the duplicate frame for diagnosis generated by the duplication unit from a communication port corresponding to the other switch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihito Iwata, Tatsuya Izumi, Hirofumi Urayama, Tadashi Matsumoto, Darmawan Go, Hideki Maeda, Takeshi Hagihara, Masashi Amesara, Hisashi Furukawa, Shu Ishizuka, Hideki Goto
  • Patent number: 11925750
    Abstract: An inhalation device that makes it possible to reduce the possibility of a user neglecting to replenish the remaining amounts of elements required for inhalation of aerosol or aerosol imparted with flavor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Manabu Takeuchi, Hirofumi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20240074510
    Abstract: An inhaler device configured to consume an accumulated capacity to contribute to generation of aerosol or aerosol imparted with flavor, a sensor configured to detect a predefined variable, an interface configured to make a notification to an inhaler of the aerosol, and a controller configured to cause the interface to function in a first mode when a detected or estimated capacity is smaller than a threshold and the variable satisfies a predefined condition for requesting the generation of the aerosol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Manabu TAKEUCHI, Hirofumi MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 11922797
    Abstract: To reduce a data amount required for tactile presentation while enabling driving of different types of tactile presentation devices corresponding to different physical amounts. An encoding device according to the present technology is provided with an encoding unit that generates coded data by performing encoding to compress an information amount by utilizing an interconversion property between physical amounts on a plurality of tactile signals representing different physical amounts. This makes it possible to obtain the tactile signals representing desired physical amounts within a range in which interconversion may be performed while compressing the information amount by utilizing the interconversion property between the physical amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Takeda, Shiro Suzuki, Shuichiro Nishigori, Jun Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11712065
    Abstract: A flavor inhaler includes a heating element that atomizes an aerosol source and a supply member that has a discharge port for supplying the aerosol source to the heating element. The heating element has a porous structure, and is disposed apart from the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takuma Nakano, Hirofumi Matsumoto, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 11612186
    Abstract: A method for supplying a liquid to an inhaler cartridge includes a housing body including an accommodation space capable of accommodating a liquid, a first opening communicating with the accommodation space and opened in a first direction, and a second opening communicating with the accommodation space and opened in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a cap configured to be formed separately from the housing body and close the first opening. The method includes closing the first opening with the cap, and after the first opening is closed, supplying the liquid to the accommodation space through the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Tomoichi Watanabe, Hirofumi Matsumoto, Takuma Nakano, Kei Oishi
  • Publication number: 20230022645
    Abstract: To provide an inhaler cartridge and an inhaler including a novel structure. Provided is a cartridge for an inhaler. The cartridge includes: a housing including an accommodation space capable of accommodating a liquid, an air flow passage, and a partition member partitioning the accommodation space and the air flow passage in a longitudinal direction; and a heater configured to be capable of heating the liquid and arranged in the air flow passage. The partition member includes an opening opened in a transverse direction to bring the accommodation space into communication with the air flow passage. The opening includes an upstream-side opening edge and a downstream-side opening edge. The partition member includes an upstream-side end and a downstream-side end. A distance between the upstream-side opening edge and the upstream-side end is smaller than a distance between the downstream-side opening edge and the downstream-side end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Tomoichi WATANABE, Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Takuma NAKANO, Kei OISHI
  • Patent number: 11540562
    Abstract: An inhaler device including an atomizer configured to consume a first accumulated capacity and a second accumulated capacity to generate aerosol, and a light emitting diode (LED) configured to output a notification to an inhaler of the aerosol. The inhaler device further including circuitry configured to cause the LED to function in a first mode when the first accumulated capacity, detected or estimated, is smaller than a first threshold and the second accumulated capacity, detected or estimated, is equal to or larger than a second threshold, and cause the LED to function in a second mode different from the first mode when the first accumulated capacity is smaller than the first threshold and the second accumulated capacity is smaller than the second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Manabu Takeuchi, Hirofumi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11457666
    Abstract: To provide an inhaler cartridge and an inhaler including a novel structure. Provided is a cartridge for an inhaler. The cartridge includes: a housing including an accommodation space capable of accommodating a liquid, an air flow passage, and a partition member partitioning the accommodation space and the air flow passage in a longitudinal direction; and a heater configured to be capable of heating the liquid and arranged in the air flow passage. The partition member includes an opening opened in a transverse direction to bring the accommodation space into communication with the air flow passage. The opening includes an upstream-side opening edge and a downstream-side opening edge. The partition member includes an upstream-side end and a downstream-side end. A distance between the upstream-side opening edge and the upstream-side end is smaller than a distance between the downstream-side opening edge and the downstream-side end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Tomoichi Watanabe, Hirofumi Matsumoto, Takuma Nakano, Kei Oishi
  • Publication number: 20220202099
    Abstract: To prevent droplets formed by agglomeration of aerosol in an aerosol flow path from reaching the inside of a user's mouth. An atomizing unit comprises an atomizing section, a tank, and a wall that defines at least part of the aerosol flow path. At least part of the wall constitutes part of a lateral wall of the tank. The aerosol flow path includes a first aerosol flow path and a second aerosol flow path. The atomizing unit includes a liquid evacuation section that is disposed in the second aerosol flow path and extends downstream of the second aerosol flow path from a boundary between the first aerosol flow path and the second aerosol flow path. The wall includes a planar portion parallel with a second direction orthogonal to a first direction at the boundary between the first aerosol flow path and the second aerosol flow path. The liquid evacuation section includes a space defined by the planar portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Manabu YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20220202082
    Abstract: To prevent droplets formed by agglomeration of aerosol in an aerosol flow path from reaching the inside of a user's mouth, an atomizing unit includes an atomizing section configured to atomize an aerosol source, a tank configured to hold the aerosol source, and a liquid holding section disposed at a front end of the tank. The tank includes a flow path wall that defines at least part of an aerosol flow path, through which aerosol generated by atomizing of the aerosol source passes, and which extends in a first direction. The atomizing unit further includes a liquid evacuation section disposed in the aerosol flow path. The liquid holding section is in communication with the liquid evacuation section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Manabu YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20210392950
    Abstract: An inhalation device cartridge includes a liquid storage portion configured to store liquid, an atomizing portion configured to atomize the liquid, and a flexible liquid transporting member configured to transport the liquid stored in the liquid storage portion toward the atomizing portion. The atomizing portion is a heating element having an elongated shape which includes electrical contact points at both ends and is pressed into a main surface of the liquid transporting member. The pressing depth at a center portion of the heating element is greater than the pressing depth at each end portion of the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Yutaka KAIHATSU, Keisuke MORITA, Herman Peter HIJMA
  • Publication number: 20210235757
    Abstract: A cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention used in a non-combustion suction device having a suction port, has a tank; a first liquid retainer: and a second liquid retainer. The tank is capable of storing liquid. The first liquid retainer is capable of retaining the liquid in the tank and configured to supply the liquid to the heater. The second liquid retainer is in contact with the first liquid retainer and capable of retaining the liquid through the first liquid retainer. The second liquid retainer and the heater are separated from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Kentaro MATSUDA, Takashi ODA, Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Keisuke MORITA
  • Patent number: 10993474
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an atomizing unit comprises: a step A of measuring a resistance value of a resistive heating element which atomizes an aerosol source by resistance heat; and a step B of recording the resistance value measured in the step A, an adjusted power supply output determined in accordance with the resistance value as a power supply output to the resistive heating element or identification information associated with the resistance value or the adjusted power supply output in an information source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Matsumoto, Akihiko Suzuki, Takuma Nakano, Manabu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20210084964
    Abstract: This non-combusting flavor inhaler is provided with a control unit which, as an instruction to a battery, outputs to the battery a prescribed instruction instructing the battery that the amount of aerosol vaporized by a vaporizer unit should fall within a desired range. The control unit stops power supply from the battery to the vaporizer unit once a prescribed period has elapsed since the start of supplying power to the vaporizer unit. The prescribed period is shorter than the upper limit value of a standard puff period, which is derived from a statistic of the user's puff period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Akihiko SUZUKI, Manabu TAKEUCHI, Takuma NAKANO, Masafumi TARORA, Manabu YAMADA
  • Patent number: 10881131
    Abstract: This non-combusting flavor inhaler is provided with a control unit which, as an instruction to a battery, outputs to the battery a prescribed instruction instructing the battery that the amount of aerosol vaporized by a vaporizer unit should fall within a desired range. The control unit stops power supply from the battery to the vaporizer unit once a prescribed period has elapsed since the start of supplying power to the vaporizer unit. The prescribed period is shorter than the upper limit value of a standard puff period, which is derived from a statistic of the user's puff period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Matsumoto, Akihiko Suzuki, Manabu Takeuchi, Takuma Nakano, Masafumi Tarora, Manabu Yamada
  • Patent number: 10869503
    Abstract: A non-burning type flavor inhaler comprises: a first unit; a second unit including an aerosol source or a flavor source; and a control unit. The control unit integrates a first cumulative amount of electric power which is a cumulative value of the amount of electric power supplied to the heat source in the one-time puff action series, and the control unit notifies an end of the one-time puff action series when the first cumulative amount of electric power reaches the required amount of electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Manabu Takeuchi, Hirofumi Matsumoto, Masafumi Tarora
  • Publication number: 20200338284
    Abstract: An inhaler device configured to consume an accumulated capacity to contribute to generation of aerosol or aerosol imparted with flavor, a sensor configured to detect a predefined variable, an interface configured to make a notification to an inhaler of the aerosol, and a controller configured to cause the interface to function in a first mode when a detected or estimated capacity is smaller than a threshold and the variable satisfies a predefined condition for requesting the generation of the aerosol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Manabu TAKEUCHI, Hirofumi MATSUMOTO