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: 12230124
    Abstract: A system related to tactile reproduction is made more efficient by achieving a data amount reduction of a tactile signal while ensuring reproducibility of a tactile sense. An encoding apparatus according to the present technology includes an encoding unit configured to encode tactile signals using different data formats between different regions of a human body. Therefore, for example, a data amount reduction of a tactile signal can be performed considering difficulty in perceiving tactile stimulation of a region, by reducing a data distribution of a tactile signal for a region with low tactile sensitivity using a difference in tactile sensitivity between regions of a human body, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Shiro Suzuki, Shuichiro Nishigori, Hirofumi Takeda, Jun Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20250040612
    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 21, 2024
    Publication date: February 6, 2025
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Tomoichi WATANABE, Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Takuma NAKANO, Kei OISHI
  • Patent number: 12206438
    Abstract: A tactile reproduction system is made more efficient by achieving a data amount reduction of a tactile signal while ensuring reproducibility of a tactile sense. A decoding apparatus according to the present technology includes a decoding unit configured to decode tactile coded data obtained by performing encoding of compressing an information amount, on a tactile signal using higher-order perception in a tactile sense. Therefore, a data amount reduction of a tactile signal can be performed in accordance with a tactile characteristic of a human.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichiro Nishigori, Shiro Suzuki, Hirofumi Takeda, Jun Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 12201147
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Hirofumi Matsumoto, Yutaka Kaihatsu, Keisuke Morita, Herman Peter Hijma
  • Patent number: 12133558
    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: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Tomoichi Watanabe, Hirofumi Matsumoto, Takuma Nakano, Kei Oishi
  • Patent number: 12075827
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Kentaro Matsuda, Takashi Oda, Hirofumi Matsumoto, Keisuke Morita
  • Publication number: 20240245094
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a liquid for atomization includes organic acid ions A, metal ions M, and a medium. The liquid for atomization is to be contained in an atomization device without coming into contact with metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Takuma NAKANO, Hirofumi FUJIKURA, Mai SUGIURA
  • Publication number: 20240245137
    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: April 5, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Manabu TAKEUCHI, Hirofumi MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 11992062
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Manabu Takeuchi, Hirofumi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20240164446
    Abstract: A cartridge can be attached/detached to/from a body part of a noncombustion-type flavor inhaler including an antenna that emits microwaves for heating an aerosol source. The cartridge includes a reserving element that can hold the aerosol source and has an antenna accommodating part that can insertably/extractably accommodate the antenna when attaching/detaching the cartridge to/from the body part; and a reservoir that stores the aerosol source for supplying aerosol to the reserving element and is in liquid communication with a first reserving element end part that is located on the antenna insertion side of the reserving element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Yuto WATANABE, Ryuji SAITO
  • Publication number: 20240164447
    Abstract: A cartridge is detachably attached to a body part of a non-combustion type flavor inhaler including au antenna that emits microwaves for heating an aerosol source. The cartridge includes a reserving element that can hold the aerosol source and an antenna accommodating part that can insertably/extractably accommodate the antenna when attaching/detaching the cartridge to/from the body part. The reserving element includes a first portion that constitutes a portion of the reserving element and a second portion that exhibits a higher capillary force than the first portion. The first portion and the second portion are disposed in series with respect to the insertion/extraction direction of the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Yuto WATANABE, Ryuji SAITO
  • Patent number: 11986019
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Manabu Takeuchi, Hirofumi Matsumoto
  • 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: 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: 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