Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Aoki

Hiroshi Aoki 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: 20030189558
    Abstract: With the aim of offering a video display technique by which stable and high contrast video images are reproduced, contrast adjusting circuitry is constructed. The contrast adjusting circuitry detects a maximum picture level (MPL) and an average picture level (APL) of analog-to-digital converted luminance signals for a predetermined period, determines one of the predefined luminance regions within which the MPL falls and one of the predefined luminance regions within which the APL falls, and, based on the thus determined luminance regions of both MPL and APL, carries out a contrast adjustment of video images by changing the gain of luminance signals and color depth correction by changing the gain of color signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Ryo Hasegawa, Takaaki Matono
  • Patent number: 6626460
    Abstract: A method of suitably controlling an airbag device or a pretensioner without imposing a burden on an airbag deployment control system and without complicating the wiring and logic for information interchange. A load discriminator receives an output from seat load cells and binarizes the output of the seat load cells, i.e. the weight of an occupant, with reference to two different threshold values corresponding to ON and OFF of the buckle switch, thereby obtaining two results. The weight discriminator sends the respective results to an airbag controller. The airbag controller receives the results and an ON/OFF signal from the buckle switch, employs the result according to the threshold value corresponding to the actual ON/OFF state of the buckle switch, and judges the kind (adult or child) of the occupant based on the employed result. Then, the airbag controller judges the actuation of the airbag based on this discrimination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6617531
    Abstract: To provide a seat load measuring device which is capable of reducing production cost and assembly cost and which makes it possible to measure the weight of the person on the seat more accurately. The device measures the load of a seat of a passenger vehicle (including the load of an object placed on the seat), wherein the load of the seat is received at three positions, the load being put together in a load cell and transmitted through a transmission mechanism, load measurement being performed by a load cell or a load measurement plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6586948
    Abstract: A device is provided for measuring the weight of a vehicle seat and the weight of a person sitting on the vehicle seat. The device is equipped with a load sensor for converting at least a part of the seat weight to an electric signal, and a deviation/deflection absorbing mechanism which has a pin bracket and a pin and is provided between the seat and the load sensor. The deviation amount that can be absorbed by this absorbing mechanism is a fixed value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Shuji Kusaka
  • Publication number: 20030110869
    Abstract: To provide a seat weight measuring apparatus having advantages such as reduced production cost and assembling cost. The seat weight measuring apparatus comprises a seat frame for supporting the seat and a load sensor attached on the seat frame. The seat frame is provided with blocks respectively on the lower surfaces of the front ends of the left and right seat rails fixed thereon, and vehicle body mounting brackets are pivotally connected to the blocks. A load sensor is disposed under the front end of the load transmitting plate of the rear frame mounted on the rear ends of the seat rails. In the seat weight measuring apparatus in such a structure, the seat weight is supported at three points of; the pivotally connected portions at the front ends on the left and right sides and the load sensor at the rear center so as to be horizontal with respect to the floor of the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6574540
    Abstract: A vehicle collision damage reduction system is provided. The system works by detecting the relative speed between the vehicle and an object, such as another vehicle. A danger level is calculated based on parameters such as speed and distance to the object; the danger level could be at an “emergency level” or at some lower level. Based on the danger level, different corrective measures and the degree of the corrective measures can be adjusted to attempt to minimize occupant injury. For example, the airbag can be adjusted to better protect the occupant, a pre-tensioner can be activated at a certain level, and the inclination of a child restraint seat may be adjusted as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Keishi Yokota, Hiroaki Fujii, Tadayuki Ato, Eiji Yanagi, Hiroshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6571647
    Abstract: In order to provide a seat weight measuring apparatus in which the performance of load sensors is not spoiled due to dimensional error or deformation of a vehicle body or a seat and provides higher precision measurement, a seat weight measuring apparatus is provided for measuring a seat weight including the weight of a passenger sitting thereon and comprises load sensors for converting at least parts of the seat weight into electric signals and a dislocation/deflection absorbing mechanism (pin brackets and pins) arranged between a seat and the load sensors. Each load sensor comprises a cantilever-type sensor plate which is deformable when subjected to load, and a plurality of strain gauges attached to one surface (strain measuring surface) of the sensor plate. The load sensor is so structured that one of the strain gauges is subjected to tensile strain while the other one of the strain gauges is subjected to the compressive strain when the sensor plate is subjected to the applied load and is thus deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Shuji Kusaka
  • Patent number: 6565376
    Abstract: A bottom plate portion (3) of a flat cable terminal (1) is partially cut to form at least one spring piece portion (6). The at least one spring piece portion (6) is upwardly raised relative to the bottom plate portion (3). At least one barrel (4) pierces a base sheet (42) of a FPC (40) in a thickness direction thereof, and is so folded that a conductor (41) formed on the base sheet (42) of the FPC (40) is pressed and held between the at least one barrel (4) and the at least one spring piece portion (6). A fine projection (7) is formed on the spring piece portion (6) in order to firmly press against the conductor (41) of the FPC (40). A distal end of the barrel (4) is chamfered so as to facilitate penetration of the barrel (4) relative to the base sheet (42) of the FPC (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6560520
    Abstract: A vehicle collision damage reduction system is provided. The system works by detecting the relative speed between the vehicle and an object, such as another vehicle. A danger level is calculated based on parameters such as speed and distance to the object; the danger level could be at an “emergency level” or at some lower level. Based on the danger level, different corrective measures and the degree of the corrective measures can be adjusted to attempt to minimize occupant injury. For example, the airbag can be adjusted to better protect the occupant, a pre-tensioner can be activated at a certain level, and the inclination of a child restraint seat may be adjusted as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Keishi Yokota, Hiroaki Fujii, Tadayuki Ato, Eiji Yanagi, Hiroshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6558187
    Abstract: A flat circuit member connector (21) includes electrical connection terminals (29) received and held in a terminal receiving portion (31a) of a connector housing, and a holder (26) which holds an electrical contact portion (24) of an FPC, wound around its flat insertion plate portion (25a), and can bring conductors of the electrical contact portion into contact with the electrical connection terminals (29), respectively. The electrical connection terminal includes a holding portion (29a) for holding the electrical contact portion, wound around the flat insertion plate portion, when the holder is inserted into the connector housing. The holding portion is received in the terminal receiving portion, with clearances (C1 and C2) formed between the holding portion and an inner wall of the terminal receiving portion, so that the holding portion can be pivotally displaced in a holding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20030070531
    Abstract: A tone hole pad to close a tone hole of a musical wind instrument is mounted in a cup having a bottom portion and a wall portion with a lip which curves inward toward the center thereof to prevent a pad surface from floating. A circular metallic base has a diameter substantially the same as the inside diameter of the wall portion of the cup and is brazed to the bottom surface thereof. The base has a stem portion integral therewith within which a female screw is formed. A ring-shaped concave portion is formed on the peripheral portion of the upper surface of the base, having an inside diameter smaller than the tone hole. A plurality of holes are formed at regular intervals between the stem portion and the ring-shaped concave portion. A peripheral corner portion of the rear surface of the base is beveled to conform to the curved portion of the inside bottom portion of the metal cup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Hiroshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20030070532
    Abstract: A tone hole pad to close a tone hole of a musical wind instrument is mounted in a cup having a bottom portion and a wall portion. A circular metallic base has a diameter substantially the same as the inside diameter of the wall portion of the cup and is brazed to the bottom surface thereof. The metallic base has a plurality of holes formed at regular intervals between the stem portion and the periphery of the surface thereof. A peripheral portion of the rear surface is beveled to conform to a curved portion of the inside bottom portion of the metal cup. A metallic holder, having an outside diameter substantially the same as the inside diameter of the wall portion of the cup, is provided with a wall portion with a lip which curves inward to prevent the pad's surface from floating and a ring-shaped recess formed in the peripheral upper surface thereof having an inside diameter smaller than the tone hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Hiroshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20030071342
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a resin housing provided with a functional part, a wire pattern made of a conductive material and molded in the resin housing, a part of the wire pattern being exposed from the resin housing, an electronic part connected with the wire pattern in a state where the electronic parts is molded in the resin housing, and a semiconductor element connected to the part of the wire pattern being exposed from the resin housing. The semiconductor element provides a designated function in cooperation with a functional part of the resin housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Honda, Kazuto Tsuji, Masanori Onodera, Hiroshi Aoki, Izumi Kobayashi, Susumu Moriya, Hiroshi Kaiya
  • Patent number: 6546817
    Abstract: To provide a diagnostic method of a seat load measuring apparatus for detecting an abnormality of the seat load measuring apparatus, outputs of load sensors 1R, 1L are inputted into a differential amplifier 4 through a multiplexer 3, converted into digital signals by a A/D converter 5, and then inputted into the MPU 6. An offset correction amount is added into the input of the differential amplifier 3 from the MPU 6 through a D/A converter 10. First, the output of the differential amplifier 4 is measured in a state in which no load is applied to a seat and a value thus measured is assumed as X1. After a predetermined load is applied to the seat, the output of the differential amplifier 4 is measured and a value thus measured is assumed as Y1. It is judged that a difference between X1 and Y1 is in a predetermined range between A1 and B1. When the difference between X1 and Y1 is not in the range between A1 and B1, an alarm indicating abnormality is emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20030060084
    Abstract: Three wires, forming a cable, are arranged as a set, and within a connector (1), connection terminals (11), secured respectively to end portions of the wires (5), are arranged in a triangular form analogous to an initial form of arrangement of the wires (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20030051564
    Abstract: To provide a diagnostic method of a seat load measuring apparatus for detecting an abnormality of the seat load measuring apparatus, outputs of load sensors 1R, 1L are inputted into a differential amplifier 4 through a multiplexer 3, converted into digital signals by a A/D converter 5, and then inputted into the MPU 6. An offset correction amount is added into the input of the differential amplifier 3 from the MPU 6 through a D/A converter 10. First, the output of the differential amplifier 4 is measured in a state in which no load is applied to a seat and a value thus measured is assumed as X1. After a predetermined load is applied to the seat, the output of the differential amplifier 4 is measured and a value thus measured is assumed as Y1. It is judged that a difference between X1 and Y1 is in a predetermined range between A1 and B1. When the difference between X1 and Y1 is not in the range between A1 and B1, an alarm indicating abnormality is emitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20030006460
    Abstract: A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element formed on a semiconductor substrate. The second semiconductor element is operated with a first voltage. The first semiconductor element is operated with a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage. The pairs of impurity regions of the first and second semiconductor elements respectively have first impurity areas and second impurity areas. Each of the first impurity areas indicative of a predetermined impurity concentration by an impurity indicative of a conductivity type opposite to a conductivity type of the semiconductor substrate. The second impurity areas extend toward their corresponding gates from the first impurity areas. The second impurity areas indicate the same conductivity type as the first impurity areas and are indicative of an impurity concentration lower than the concentration of the first impurity area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Junko Azami
  • Patent number: 6503096
    Abstract: In a connector housing (15), slits (25) formed in outer walls are perpendicular to the terminal insertion direction, so that an FPC (40) that is passed through the slits (25) can be positioned at a predetermined location and arranged opposite conductor joints (37) of terminals (17). When a rear holder (19) for applying pressure to the FPC (40) that is passed through the slits (25) is shifted, the conductor joints (37) are bent, and that the recovery force produced by the bending holds the conductor joints elastically in contact with the FPC (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6500573
    Abstract: A humidifier device for use in fuel cells comprising a mist humidifier unit for adding mists to process gas supplied to an electrolyte equipped in a fuel cell and a humidifier unit control device for intermittently operating the mist humidifier unit in accordance with operating condition of the fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Takashi Simazu, Hiroshi Aoki, Tomohisa Wakasugi, Takahiko Asaoka, Kazutaka Hiroshima, Yutaka Ohya, Katsuhito Yamada
  • Publication number: 20020188393
    Abstract: A vehicle collision damage reduction system is provided. The system works by detecting the relative speed between the vehicle and an object, such as another vehicle. A danger level is calculated based on parameters such as speed and distance to the object; the danger level could be at an “emergency level” or at some lower level. Based on the danger level, different corrective measures and the degree of the corrective measures can be adjusted to attempt to minimize occupant injury. For example, the airbag can be adjusted to better protect the occupant, a pre-tensioner can be activated at a certain level, and the inclination of a child restraint seat may be adjusted as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keishi Yokota, Hiroaki Fujii, Tadayuki Ato, Eiji Yanagi, Hiroshi Aoki