Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Naitou

Hiroshi Naitou 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: 20240344907
    Abstract: An electrode structure is an electrode structure to be wound around a rim of a steering wheel provided in a vehicle, the electrode structure including: a base material; a first sensor electrode disposed on one surface of the base material; a second sensor electrode disposed on the one surface of the base material to be aligned with the first sensor electrode; a first harness extended from the first sensor electrode; a second harness extended from the second sensor electrode; a connector to which the first harness and the second harness are connected; and a relay connector including a male connector and a female connector that is connected to the male connector. At least one of the first harness or the second harness is provided with the relay connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Takumi YAMADA, Takateru SAWADA, Hiroshi NAITOU
  • Publication number: 20240344906
    Abstract: An electrode structure is an electrode structure that is wound around a rim of a steering wheel and includes: a base material including a first region disposed on a front surface side of the rim and a second region disposed on a back surface side of the rim; a first sensor electrode disposed in the first region; and a second sensor electrode disposed in the second region. When the steering wheel is in a neutral position, in a lower-limb facing portion of the rim that faces a lower limb of a driver, neither the first sensor electrode nor the second sensor electrode is disposed, or only one of the first sensor electrode or the second sensor electrode is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: Takumi YAMADA, Takateru SAWADA, Hiroshi NAITOU
  • Patent number: 10895656
    Abstract: Capacitive sensor includes sensor electrode, sensor circuit that is electrically connected to sensor electrode measures capacitance of sensor electrode, first impedance element, noise detection circuit that is electrically connected to sensor electrode through first impedance element and measures noise, and control circuit that switches between on and off of each of sensor circuit and noise detection circuit. Control circuit causes sensor circuit to measure the capacitance of sensor electrode by turning on sensor circuit and by turning off noise detection circuit and control circuit causes noise detection circuit to measure the noise by turning off sensor circuit and by turning on noise detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Okazaki, Hiroshi Naitou, Tsuyoshi Nishio
  • Patent number: 10689022
    Abstract: A steering wheel grip detection device includes a positive electrode terminal electrically connected to a positive electrode of a power source and a negative electrode terminal electrically connected to a negative electrode of the power source. The steering wheel grip detection device further includes a thermostat, a heater, and an inductance element that are electrically connected with one another in this order in series wiring from the positive electrode terminal to the negative electrode terminal, as well as a capacitor through which a wiring path from the thermostat to the heater is electrically connected with the negative electrode terminal. The steering wheel grip detection device has an electrostatic sensor circuit that is electrically connected with a wiring path from the inductance element to the heater and that detects a grip on a steering wheel by a capacitance value of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Okazaki, Shinji Fujikawa, Hiroshi Naitou, Tsuyoshi Nishio
  • Patent number: 10640138
    Abstract: A steering wheel grip detection device includes a series circuit including an inductance element, a thermostat incorporated into a steering wheel, and a heater incorporated into the steering wheel; an electrostatic sensor circuit that detects a grip of the steering wheel by means of an electric or electromagnetic field; and a voltage detecting circuit that detects an open/closed state of the thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Fujikawa, Yuta Okazaki, Hiroshi Naitou, Tsuyoshi Nishio, Nobuharu Katsuki
  • Publication number: 20200041680
    Abstract: Capacitive sensor includes sensor electrode, sensor circuit that is electrically connected to sensor electrode measures capacitance of sensor electrode, first impedance element, noise detection circuit that is electrically connected to sensor electrode through first impedance element and measures noise, and control circuit that switches between on and off of each of sensor circuit and noise detection circuit. Control circuit causes sensor circuit to measure the capacitance of sensor electrode by turning on sensor circuit and by turning off noise detection circuit and control circuit causes noise detection circuit to measure the noise by turning off sensor circuit and by turning on noise detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: YUTA OKAZAKI, HIROSHI NAITOU, TSUYOSHI NISHIO
  • Patent number: 10449989
    Abstract: A steering wheel heater device including: a steering wheel heater configured of an electrical resistor which produces heat by electrical energy; an inductor; at least one switch; and a sensor circuit, wherein the inductor is connected in series to a first terminal of the steering wheel heater, the at least one switch turns on and off the supply of power to the steering wheel heater, the sensor circuit is electrically connected to the first terminal and determines whether a detected subject is in contact with a steering wheel based on a magnitude of capacitance of the steering wheel heater, and the at least one switch is at least one of a switch connected in series to the first terminal of the steering wheel heater via the inductor and a switch connected in series to a second terminal of the steering wheel heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nishio, Hiroshi Naitou, Baku Sakaguchi, Shinji Fujikawa, Yuta Okazaki
  • Patent number: 10308273
    Abstract: A steering wheel heater device including: a heating wire; a power line connected in series to the heating wire, for supplying the heating wire with power; a ground line connected in series to the heating wire; a lead-out wire connected to a point along a wiring pattern formed of the heating wire; and a contact detection circuit electrically connected to the wiring pattern formed of the heating wire through the lead-out wire, wherein a portion of the wiring pattern is connected in series between the ground line and the contact detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Naitou, Shinji Fujikawa, Tsuyoshi Nishio, Nobuharu Katsuki
  • Patent number: 10252741
    Abstract: An electrostatic steering wheel hold detection device includes: a first heater element located in a steering wheel, and has one end electrically connected to a power source; an inductor—that is electrically connected to an other end of the first heater element; a second heater element that is included in the steering wheel, and has one end electrically connected to the other end of the first heater element via the inductor; and a sensor circuit that is electrically connected to a connection point between the first heater element and the inductor, and detects, from a change in capacitance at the connection point, whether or not the steering wheel is held. An other end of the second heater element is electrically connected to a ground. The second heater element is located lower than the first heater element in the steering wheel when the steering wheel is in a neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignees: PANASONIC CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Okazaki, Hiroshi Naitou, Shinji Fujikawa, Tsuyoshi Nishio, Nobuharu Katsuki, Takeshi Matsumura, Hirotada Otake
  • Patent number: 10202137
    Abstract: A heater device includes: a base member; a heater wire; and a sensor which measures capacitance of the heater wire, wherein the heater wire forms a first wiring pattern and a second wiring pattern connected in series, the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern each include N wire blocks, the N wire blocks included in the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern are disposed in a manner that arrangement of the N wire blocks included in the first wiring pattern and arrangement of the N wire blocks included in the second wiring pattern are reversed in the circumferential direction of the rim and facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction, and a sum of sensitivity of the sensor to capacitance of a pair of wire blocks facing each other is substantially equal to that of another pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Okazaki, Hiroshi Naitou, Shinji Fujikawa, Tsuyoshi Nishio, Nobuharu Katsuki
  • Publication number: 20180327016
    Abstract: A steering wheel grip detection device includes a positive electrode terminal electrically connected to a positive electrode of a power source and a negative electrode terminal electrically connected to a negative electrode of the power source. The steering wheel grip detection device further includes a thermostat, a heater, and an inductance element that are electrically connected with one another in this order in series wiring from the positive electrode terminal to the negative electrode terminal, as well as a capacitor through which a wiring path from the thermostat to the heater is electrically connected with the negative electrode terminal. The steering wheel grip detection device has an electrostatic sensor circuit that is electrically connected with a wiring path from the inductance element to the heater and that detects a grip on a steering wheel by a capacitance value of the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: YUTA OKAZAKI, SHINJI FUJIKAWA, HIROSHI NAITOU, TSUYOSHI NISHIO
  • Patent number: 9979390
    Abstract: A grip sensor includes: a plurality of capacitive detectors which are disposed in a grip of a steering wheel of a vehicle, and output values which vary according to whether a human body is in contact; and a controller which determines, at a preset timing, a reference value to be subtracted from the values output from the plurality of capacitive detectors, to determine whether the human body is in contact, wherein the controller identifies, from among values output from the plurality of capacitive detectors at the preset timing, one or more values each having an absolute value smaller than a first threshold, and determines, as the reference value, one of the one or more values identified or an average of the one or more values identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Fujikawa, Nobuharu Katsuki, Tsuyoshi Nishio, Hiroshi Naitou, Yuta Okazaki
  • Publication number: 20180022374
    Abstract: A steering wheel grip detection device includes a series circuit including an inductance element, a thermostat incorporated into a steering wheel, and a heater incorporated into the steering wheel; an electrostatic sensor circuit that detects a grip of the steering wheel by means of an electric or electromagnetic field; and a voltage detecting circuit that detects an open/closed state of the thermostat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: SHINJI FUJIKAWA, YUTA OKAZAKI, HIROSHI NAITOU, TSUYOSHI NISHIO, NOBUHARU KATSUKI
  • Publication number: 20170210408
    Abstract: An electrostatic steering wheel hold detection device includes: a first heater element located in a steering wheel, and has one end electrically connected to a power source; an inductor -that is electrically connected to an other end of the first heater element; a second heater element that is included in the steering wheel, and has one end electrically connected to the other end of the first heater element via the inductor; and a sensor circuit that is electrically connected to a connection point between the first heater element and the inductor, and detects, from a change in capacitance at the connection point, whether or not the steering wheel is held. An other end of the second heater element is electrically connected to a ground. The second heater element is located lower than the first heater element in the steering wheel when the steering wheel is in a neutral position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Yuta OKAZAKI, Hiroshi NAITOU, Shinji FUJIKAWA, Tsuyoshi NISHIO, Nobuharu KATSUKI, Takeshi MATSUMURA, Hirotada OTAKE
  • Publication number: 20170183025
    Abstract: A heater device includes: a base member; a heater wire; and a sensor which measures capacitance of the heater wire, wherein the heater wire forms a first wiring pattern and a second wiring pattern connected in series, the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern each include N wire blocks, the N wire blocks included in the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern are disposed in a manner that arrangement of the N wire blocks included in the first wiring pattern and arrangement of the N wire blocks included in the second wiring pattern are reversed in the circumferential direction of the rim and facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction, and a sum of sensitivity of the sensor to capacitance of a pair of wire blocks facing each other is substantially equal to that of another pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yuta OKAZAKI, Hiroshi NAITOU, Shinji FUJIKAWA, Tsuyoshi NISHIO, Nobuharu KATSUKI
  • Publication number: 20170079089
    Abstract: An electrostatic grip detection device includes a base material, a heater wire, a sensor wire, and a detection unit. The heater wire is formed in the base material. The sensor wire is formed in the base material, and has a first end electrically connected to the heater wire and a second end opened. The detection unit is electrically connected to at least one of the heater wire and the sensor wire, and senses a change in electrostatic capacitance of at least one of the heater wire and the sensor wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: YUTA OKAZAKI, HIROSHI NAITOU, SHINJI FUJIKAWA, TSUYOSHI NISHIO, NOBUHARU KATSUKI
  • Publication number: 20160101805
    Abstract: A steering wheel heater device including: a steering wheel heater configured of an electrical resistor which produces heat by electrical energy; an inductor; at least one switch; and a sensor circuit, wherein the inductor is connected in series to a first terminal of the steering wheel heater, the at least one switch turns on and off the supply of power to the steering wheel heater, the sensor circuit is electrically connected to the first terminal and determines whether a detected subject is in contact with a steering wheel based on a magnitude of capacitance of the steering wheel heater, and the at least one switch is at least one of a switch connected in series to the first terminal of the steering wheel heater via the inductor and a switch connected in series to a second terminal of the steering wheel heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: TSUYOSHI NISHIO, HIROSHI NAITOU, BAKU SAKAGUCHI, SHINJI FUJIKAWA, YUTA OKAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20160096543
    Abstract: A steering wheel heater device including: a heating wire; a power line connected in series to the heating wire, for supplying the heating wire with power; a ground line connected in series to the heating wire; a lead-out wire connected to a point along a wiring pattern formed of the heating wire; and a contact detection circuit electrically connected to the wiring pattern formed of the heating wire through the lead-out wire, wherein a portion of the wiring pattern is connected in series between the ground line and the contact detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Hiroshi NAITOU, Shinji FUJIKAWA, Tsuyoshi NISHIO, Nobuharu KATSUKI
  • Patent number: 9203358
    Abstract: A radio frequency amplifier circuit includes a transistor and an output-side matching circuit. The output-side matching circuit includes a first distributed constant line to which a radio frequency signal from the transistor is transmitted, a flat plate lead terminal transmitting the radio frequency signal from the first distributed constant line to an outside of the package, and a capacitive element having one electrode that is connected to the lead terminal and the other electrode that is grounded. A back surface of the lead terminal is joined to a resin substrate, and the capacitive element and the first distributed constant line are disposed adjacent to each other, with an alignment direction of the capacitive element and the first distributed constant line intersecting an alignment direction of the first distributed constant line and the lead terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohide Kamiyama, Hiroshi Naitou, Takashi Uno, Motoyoshi Iwata, Kazuhiro Yahata, Hikaru Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20150330931
    Abstract: A grip sensor includes: a plurality of capacitive detectors which are disposed in a grip of a steering wheel of a vehicle, and output values which vary according to whether a human body is in contact; and a controller which determines, at a preset timing, a reference value to be subtracted from the values output from the plurality of capacitive detectors, to determine whether the human body is in contact, wherein the controller identifies, from among values output from the plurality of capacitive detectors at the preset timing, one or more values each having an absolute value smaller than a first threshold, and determines, as the reference value, one of the one or more values identified or an average of the one or more values identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: SHINJI FUJIKAWA, NOBUHARU KATSUKI, TSUYOSHI NISHIO, HIROSHI NAITOU, YUTA OKAZAKI