Patents by Inventor Hiroki Asano

Hiroki Asano 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: 20240411260
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, a developing member, a contacting member contacting the developing member, and first to third power sources. The first power source generates a first voltage and applies it to the charging member. The second power source generates a second voltage, lower than the first voltage, from the first voltage and applies it to the contacting member. The third power source generates a third voltage, lower than the second voltage, from the second voltage and applies it to the developing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Hiroki Hanayama, Hiroki Asano
  • Patent number: 12124185
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member, a charging member, an exposure unit, a developing member, a developing voltage applying portion, a transfer member, a first transfer voltage applying portion, a second transfer voltage applying portion, a common power source, and a controller. The controller carries out control so as to execute an image forming operation, and a non-image forming operation and so as to execute, as the non-image forming operation, a cleaning operation. The controller controls a change in output of the common power source so that a value of a voltage applied from the developing voltage applying portion to the developing member during the cleaning operation is made different from a value of a voltage applied from the developing voltage applying portion to the developing member during formation of the toner image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taisuke Minagawa, Hiroki Asano
  • Patent number: 12095375
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a transformer including a primary coil and a secondary coil, a switching element connected in series to the primary coil, a first generation unit configured to generate a first voltage to be output to a first load from a voltage generated in the primary coil by turning on and off the switching element, and a second generation unit configured to generate a second voltage to be output to a second load from a voltage generated in the secondary coil by turning on and off the switching element. The first voltage has an absolute value smaller than an absolute value of the second voltage. The first voltage has a polarity different from a polarity of the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroki Asano
  • Patent number: 12092983
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, a developing member, a contacting member contacting the developing member, and first to third power sources. The first power source generates a first voltage and applies it to the charging member. The second power source generates a second voltage, lower than the first voltage, from the first voltage and applies it to the contacting member. The third power source generates a third voltage, lower than the second voltage, from the second voltage and applies it to the developing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Hanayama, Hiroki Asano
  • Publication number: 20240272569
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a sensor provided in a toner container and is configured to detect information regarding a remaining amount of toner contained in the toner container. AC power supply supplies an AC voltage to the sensor. A first DC power supply generates a DC voltage in a first polarity by converting the AC voltage output from the AC power supply, and applies the DC voltage in the first polarity to a primary transfer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Inventor: HIROKI ASANO
  • Publication number: 20240223174
    Abstract: A comparator is presented. The comparator includes an input port for receiving an input voltage; an output port for providing an output voltage; a resistive divider, first and second transistors, and a differential amplifier. The resistive divider has a first node for providing a first voltage and a second node for providing a second voltage. The first transistor has a control terminal coupled to the first node, a first terminal coupled to the input port, and a second terminal coupled to a common node. The second transistor has a control terminal coupled to the second node, a first terminal coupled to the input port, and a second terminal coupled to the common node. The differential amplifier has a first input coupled to the first terminal of the first transistor, a second input coupled to the first terminal of the second transistor and an output coupled to the output port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: Renesas Design (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki ASANO, Kenji TOMIYOSHI
  • Publication number: 20240195308
    Abstract: A resistance switching circuit includes a resistor forming an output resistance of a first power supply. The resistance switching circuit switches between a state in which the resistor forms part of an output resistance and a state in which the resistor does not form part of the output resistance. A control circuit is configured to in a case where a DC voltage with a first polarity is applied to a load from a first power supply, control the resistance switching circuit such that the resistor does not form part of the output resistance, and in a case where a DC voltage with a second polarity is applied to the load from a second power supply, control the resistance switching circuit such that the resistor forms part of the output resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventor: HIROKI ASANO
  • Publication number: 20230408949
    Abstract: A voltage generating apparatus includes: a first circuit configured to output a first voltage; a controller configured to control a value of the first voltage output by the first circuit with a control signal; and a storage unit configured to store control information of the first circuit. The controller uses the control signal for communication with the storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventor: HIROKI ASANO
  • Patent number: 11709515
    Abstract: A voltage regulator and a corresponding method of regulating a voltage are presented. The voltage regulator includes an N-type power switch, an error amplifier, and a switch capacitor circuit. The switch capacitor circuit includes a first capacitor coupled to a network of switches, the switch capacitor circuit has a first port coupled to an output the error amplifier, a second port coupled to an output terminal of the power switch, and a third port coupled to a control terminal of the power switch. The switch capacitor circuit is iteratively operable between a first phase and a second phase. In the first phase the first port is coupled to ground via a path comprising the first capacitor, and in the second phase the second port is coupled to the third port via a path comprising the first capacitor. The voltage regulator may be implemented as a low dropout regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Hiroki Asano, Katsuhiko Ariyoshi, Susumu Tanimoto
  • Publication number: 20230152745
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging member, a developing member, a first contacting member contacting to the developing member, and first to third power sources. The first power source generates a first voltage lower and supply to the charging member. The second power source generates a second voltage lower than the first voltage from the first voltage and applies to the first contacting member. The third power source generates a third voltage lower than the second voltage from the second voltage and applies to the developing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Hiroki Hanayama, Hiroki Asano
  • Publication number: 20230095217
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable photosensitive member, a charging member, an exposure unit, a developing member, a developing voltage applying portion, a transfer member, a first transfer voltage applying portion, a second transfer voltage applying portion, a common power source, and a controller. The controller carries out control so as to execute an image forming operation, and a non-image forming operation and so as to execute, as the non-image forming operation, a cleaning operation. The controller controls a change in output of the common power source so that a value of a voltage applied from the developing voltage applying portion to the developing member during the cleaning operation is made different from a value of a voltage applied from the developing voltage applying portion to the developing member during formation of the toner image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Taisuke Minagawa, Hiroki Asano
  • Patent number: 11599134
    Abstract: A Low Dropout Regulator (LDO) with Less Quiescent Current in the Dropout Region is described, including an error amplifier configured to compare a reference voltage to an LDO output voltage across a resistive divider, a current mirror configured to mirror a first output of the error amplifier to a first and second output of the current mirror, and a comparator configured to compare the LDO output voltage to a second output of the error amplifier, which has been compared to the second output of the current mirror, and configured to output a control voltage to the error amplifier, where a low quiescent current is maintained when an LDO input voltage is near or less than the LDO output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Susumu Tanimoto, Hiroki Asano
  • Publication number: 20220350608
    Abstract: A branch prediction circuit includes a branch target address storage circuitry, a higher order address storage circuitry, an address generation circuitry, and a branch instruction execution circuitry. The branch target address storage circuitry stores a first address of a branch instruction executed in the past, a lower order address of a second address of an instruction to be executed next, and information pertaining to a reference target for a higher order address of the second address and to whether or not reference is needed. The higher order address storage circuitry stores the higher order address of the second address. The address generation circuitry generates the second address when a third address of an instruction to be newly executed matches the first address. The branch instruction execution circuitry provides an instruction for speculative execution of the instruction having the second address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki ASANO
  • Patent number: 11470441
    Abstract: An in-vehicle terminal mounted in a vehicle includes a controller configured to: transmit a radio signal indicating that it is possible to share a ride in the vehicle; upon receipt of the radio signal from a user terminal that has received the radio signal, transmit information relating to the vehicle to the user terminal; and receive information indicating a result of determination of whether or not a user of the user terminal can join the ride in the vehicle, the determination being made using the information relating to the vehicle, from the user terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koseki Sugiyama, Atsuko Kobayashi, Hiroki Asano, Harunobu Saito, Yoshihiro Tsuge, Tae Sugimura, Kuniaki Jinnai
  • Publication number: 20220181976
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a transformer including a primary coil and a secondary coil, a switching element connected in series to the primary coil, a first generation unit configured to generate a first voltage to be output to a first load from a voltage generated in the primary coil by turning on and off the switching element, and a second generation unit configured to generate a second voltage to be output to a second load from a voltage generated in the secondary coil by turning on and off the switching element. The first voltage has an absolute value smaller than an absolute value of the second voltage. The first voltage has a polarity different from a polarity of the second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventor: Hiroki Asano
  • Patent number: 11301789
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a controller configured to execute: determining whether to change a scheduled riding vehicle for a first user or not based on predetermined position information related to a first user's riding a first vehicle, before a scheduled time on which the first user is to board the first vehicle which the first user is scheduled to board at a first boarding place; extracting one or more candidate vehicles serving as alternative candidates for the first vehicle, when it is determined to change the scheduled riding vehicle for the first user; and changing the scheduled riding vehicle for the first user from the first vehicle to a second vehicle that is one of the one or more candidate vehicles, based on an approval by the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koseki Sugiyama, Atsuko Kobayashi, Hiroki Asano, Harunobu Saito, Yoshihiro Tsuge, Tae Sugimura, Kuniaki Jinnai
  • Publication number: 20210365061
    Abstract: A Low Dropout Regulator (LDO) with Less Quiescent Current in the Dropout Region is described, including an error amplifier configured to compare a reference voltage to an LDO output voltage across a resistive divider, a current mirror configured to mirror a first output of the error amplifier to a first and second output of the current mirror, and a comparator configured to compare the LDO output voltage to a second output of the error amplifier, which has been compared to the second output of the current mirror, and configured to output a control voltage to the error amplifier, where a low quiescent current is maintained when an LDO input voltage is near or less than the LDO output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Susumu Tanimoto, Hiroki Asano
  • Publication number: 20210235220
    Abstract: An in-vehicle terminal mounted in a vehicle includes a controller configured to: transmit a radio signal indicating that it is possible to share a ride in the vehicle; upon receipt of the radio signal from a user terminal that has received the radio signal, transmit information relating to the vehicle to the user terminal; and receive information indicating a result of determination of whether or not a user of the user terminal can join the ride in the vehicle, the determination being made using the information relating to the vehicle, from the user terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koseki SUGIYAMA, Atsuko KOBAYASHI, Hiroki ASANO, Harunobu SAITO, Yoshihiro TSUGE, Tae SUGIMURA, Kuniaki JINNAI
  • Patent number: 11012808
    Abstract: An in-vehicle terminal mounted in a vehicle includes a controller configured to: transmit a radio signal indicating that it is possible to share a ride in the vehicle; upon receipt of the radio signal from a user terminal that has received the radio signal, transmit information relating to the vehicle to the user terminal; and receive information indicating a result of determination of whether or not a user of the user terminal can join the ride in the vehicle, the determination being made using the information relating to the vehicle, from the user terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koseki Sugiyama, Atsuko Kobayashi, Hiroki Asano, Harunobu Saito, Yoshihiro Tsuge, Tae Sugimura, Kuniaki Jinnai
  • Patent number: 10809082
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a controller configured to execute: accepting an alighting request to allow a first user to alight at a place other than a travel destination of the first user while a first vehicle allows the first user to ride and travels; performing determination of an alighting place where the first user is allowed to alight, and extraction of one or more candidate vehicles capable of allowing the first user to board at a boarding place that is a place identical to the alighting place or a place adjacent thereto, according to the alighting request; and notifying a request for the first user's reboarding at the boarding place, to a second vehicle that is one of the one or more candidate vehicles, based on an approval by the first user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koseki Sugiyama, Atsuko Kobayashi, Hiroki Asano, Harunobu Saito, Yoshihiro Tsuge, Tae Sugimura, Kuniaki Jinnai