Patents by Inventor Hiroto Sugahara

Hiroto Sugahara 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: 8075100
    Abstract: A head includes a common ink chamber, a plurality of individual electrodes which communicate with the common ink chamber, and a plurality of ink channels through which, an ink supplied from the common ink chamber flows. Each ink channel is provided with a first electrode which is common for the individual electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes corresponding to the individual electrodes respectively, and an insulating layer which covers the first electrode and the second electrodes. Furthermore, the individual electrode of each ink channel is associated with an individual electrode of another ink channel, and the corresponding second electrodes are in electrical conduction. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a cost of an electrical system by reducing the number of wirings which are connected to electrodes provided to each of the liquid channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8075127
    Abstract: A printing apparatus having an ink-jet head which discharges an ink toward a medium, a UV light source, a movement mechanism which moves the medium, and a controller. When the printing mode is selected, the controller controls the ink-jet head to discharge the ink toward the medium, and the controller controls the UV light source to radiate a small amount of the ultraviolet light to cure the ink. When the erasing mode is selected, the controller controls the UV light source to radiate a large amount of the ultraviolet light toward the medium to decolorize the ink. Accordingly, the medium, on which the printing has been once performed, can be reused quickly and reliably. Further, the printing can be performed on a variety of media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Publication number: 20110281526
    Abstract: Disclosed are a radio wave propagation characteristic estimation system, radio wave propagation characteristic estimation method, and radio wave propagation characteristic estimation program for estimating propagation characteristics of radio waves at high speeds, without deteriorating accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuma Matsuda, Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8042925
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a case, an ink supply portion positioned at a front face of the case, a movable member configured to move relative to the case, and at least one resilient member coupled to a rear face of the case and the movable member. The at least one resilient member is configured to expand in an expansion direction and to contract in a contraction direction to move the movable member relative to the case, and a shape of the case in the expansion and contraction directions is unaltered. The entire moveable member is configured to substantially simultaneously move relative to the case when the at least one resilient member expands and contracts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroto Sugahara, Shingo Hattori
  • Patent number: 8038266
    Abstract: An air babble trapping apparatus which traps an air bubble in ink includes: a filter having through holes formed in the substrate and an insulating layer with a low wettability formed in a surface of the substrate; and an electric potential control unit which controls an electric potential difference between the electroconductive substrate and the ink. When the electric potential difference is set to be zero, the air bubble in the ink is adhered to a surface of the filter because of the low wettability of the insulating layer. When the electric potential difference is set to be a predetermined value, the air bubble adhered to the surface of the filter is released since the wettability of the surface of the insulating layer of the filter is increased due to an electrowetting phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8038241
    Abstract: An inkjet recording device according to an aspect of the invention comprises: an ejection head configured to eject ink on a recording medium; a conveying unit configured to convey the recording medium on a conveying path, the conveying path including a first conveying path positioned where the ejection head forms an image on the recording medium and extending along a first direction; an attaching unit configured to attach a second recording medium having an adherable part adherable to the recording medium such that a part of the second recording medium projects from an end portion of the recording medium with respect to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The ejection head is configured to record an image on the second recording medium in a position outside the recording medium with respect to the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8038264
    Abstract: A plurality of pressure chambers are divided into a first pressure chamber group and a second pressure chamber group, and are arranged such that an interval of the first pressure chamber group and the second pressure chamber group is larger than an interval between nozzles, and sub ink supply passage which supplies the ink to the common liquid chambers through the space is formed. Accordingly, a liquid droplet jetting head which is capable of delivering the ink to all the nozzles without increasing a size is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8038265
    Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a piezoelectric layer, pressure chambers, nozzles, first electrodes, and second electrodes. When electric potentials of the first and second electrodes respectively are changed at the same timing such that increase and decrease in the electric potentials are opposite between the first and second electrodes, volume of the pressure chamber is changed to apply jetting-pressure to ink in the pressure chamber, thereby jetting an ink droplet from the nozzle. When only the electric potential of the second electrode is changed, the volume of the pressure chamber is changed to apply a vibrating-pressure lower than the jetting-pressure to the ink in the pressure chamber, thereby vibrating meniscus of the ink, agitating the ink in the nozzle. This makes it possible to suppress increase in viscosity of the ink in the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8033648
    Abstract: A pattern forming apparatus which forms a pattern of an electroconductive liquid on a printing medium includes a pattern forming substrate having an insulating substrate, a plurality of electrodes arranged on the insulating substrate, and an insulating layer which covers the electrodes, an electric potential controller which selectively applies an electric potential to the electrodes, and a transferring mechanism which transfers the pattern by bringing the electroconductive liquid formed as a predetermined pattern on the insulating layer, in contact with the printing medium. Accordingly, it is possible to form a fine pattern at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Publication number: 20110242158
    Abstract: A liquid droplet jetting apparatus comprises a liquid droplet jetting head which jets liquid droplets, a storage tank which stores a liquid to be jetted by the liquid droplet-jetting head, a tube which connects the liquid droplet jetting head and the storage tank, and a liquid-state detecting mechanism which detects a state of the liquid contained in the tube at a plurality of positions in a longitudinal direction of the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki TAKATA, Tomoyuki KUBO, Hiroto SUGAHARA, Yoshinori YOKOE
  • Publication number: 20110244901
    Abstract: Radiowave environment data correction that uses the data measurement results obtained at measuring points in a base station peripheral area provided for a wireless communications system, is achieved accurately at a limited number of measuring points. A radiowave environment data correcting system includes correction data determining means that determines correction data for sub-areas, the sub-areas being regions into which an assessment area is divided, on the basis of data measurement results obtained at measuring points belonging to the sub-areas, wherein division into the area is based on an area usage division that is a division predefined according to a particular layout of objects or spaces in the assessment area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8029104
    Abstract: A liquid droplet transporting apparatus includes a first electrode which is arranged on a surface of a substrate, a second electrode which is arranged apart from the first electrode on the surface of the substrate, an insulating layer which is arranged to cover each of the first electrode and the second electrode, and a liquid repellent property on a surface of the insulating layer changes according to an electric potential difference between the electrode and an electroconductive liquid droplet on the surface, and a third electrode which cooperates with the second electrode to detect the liquid droplet on the second electrode. Consequently, it is possible to transport a liquid droplet between two areas, and also to detect as to in which area out of the two areas, the liquid droplet exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Publication number: 20110234716
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge detachably loadable in a cartridge loading section of a liquid supplying device is provided. The liquid cartridge includes: a main body defining therewithin a liquid accommodation chamber storing liquid therein, the liquid accommodation chamber having a light-transmission portion transmitting light therethrough; a moving member disposed within the liquid accommodation chamber and configured to move in accordance with an amount of the liquid; a light outlet configured to move in conjunction with the movement of the moving member; and a light guiding portion configured to guide incident light toward the light outlet, the light outlet irradiating light coming from the light guiding portion outside of the main body via the light-transmission portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoyuki KUBO, Hiroto SUGAHARA, Masayuki TAKATA
  • Patent number: 8025379
    Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a case including a front face and a rear face opposite the front face, an ink supply portion positioned at the front face of the case, an air intake portion positioned at the case, and a movable member configured to move between a first position and a second position relative to the case. The ink cartridge also includes a resilient member having a first end which is coupled to the front face of the case and a second end which is coupled to the movable member. The movable and member and the resilient member are positioned outside the case. Moreover, the resilient member is configured to expand and to contract to move the movable member relative to the case between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Hattori, Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8025373
    Abstract: A printer system includes a main printer which has a first tank and a first head, a sub printer which has a second tank having a volume smaller than the first tank and a second head and which is provided detachably with respect to the main printer, and a supply mechanism which supplies the ink from the first tank to the second tank when the sub printer is installed to the main printer. Accordingly, it is possible to provide the printer system, which is not provided with any exclusive station that finds no way of use except for the ink supplement and requires any excessive installation space, while the sub printer is of the ink supplement type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8020964
    Abstract: A liquid drop ejecting device includes a housing supporting a plurality of head units that are arranged in two rows to be partially overlapping along a main scanning direction in a staggered configuration. The head unit includes a flow path unit having an ink flow path, a piezoelectric actuator ejecting ink from nozzles in the flow path unit, and a reinforcement plate for reinforcing the flow path unit. In the reinforcement plate, a smaller-width portion and a larger-width portion are disposed along the main scanning direction, such that an end face of the smaller-width portion of the reinforcement member in one row contacts an end face of a reinforcement member in the adjacent row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8016376
    Abstract: A liquid cartridge is detachable mounted in a liquid ejecting device and supplies liquid to the liquid ejecting device when mounted. The liquid cartridge includes a liquid accommodating chamber, a float member movably disposed in the liquid accommodating chamber, a detection member that moves in conjunction with the float member and is subject to be detected by an external light detector, and a restricting portion that restricts movements of the float member and the detection member along a predetermined path. The detection member includes a light transmission section and first and second light blocking sections and moves past a predetermined detection position when moving the predetermined path. The liquid accommodating chamber includes wall sections that interpose the detection position therebetween, a portion of which has light transmissive characteristics so that light from the light detector can exit outside via the detection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8011759
    Abstract: A liquid droplet transport apparatus, which is provided on a nozzle plate of an ink-jet head, including a first electrode and a second electrode which are arranged on a lower surface of the nozzle plate, a driver which applies electric potentials to the first electrode and the second electrode respectively, a resistor layer which is arranged on the lower surface of the nozzle plate and which makes electric conduction to both of the first electrode and the second electrode, and an insulating layer which covers the first electrode, the second electrode, and the resistor layer. Accordingly, the liquid droplet transport apparatus is provided, which makes it possible to transport liquid droplets over a long distance, while simplifying the arrangement for the liquid droplet transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroto Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8011746
    Abstract: When a DNA ink printing mode is selected, a serial number and a pattern data of DNA is read from an IC tag of a DNA ink cartridge and a fingerprint of a printing person is read by a fingerprint authenticating unit. The pattern of the fingerprint and DNA which have been read are verified with the pattern data of fingerprints and DNA in a memory and personal authentication is carried out. Thereafter, a DNA ink is jetted on to a recording paper, and printing of an image by an image forming ink is carried out. By carrying out printing by such a method, it is possible to specify the printing person who has created the printed matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroto Sugahara, Hiroaki Yazawa, Masahiro Nishizaki, Motohiro Momozaki
  • Publication number: 20110211206
    Abstract: A print data generating device comprises a retrieving unit, a bar code data generating unit, and a print data generating unit. The retrieving unit is configured to retrieve image data of an original image. The bar code data generating unit is configured to generate, based on the image data of the original image, data of at least one bar code that stores the original image. The print data generating unit is configured to generate, based on the image data of the original image and the data of the at least one bar code, print data of a print image that includes the at least one bar code arranged on one page and the original image arranged on one or more pages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroto SUGAHARA, Masayuki TAKATA, Tomoyuki KUBO, Yoshinori YOKOE