Patents by Inventor Katsunori Sakai

Katsunori Sakai 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: 20240262100
    Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including: a main control circuit; a sub-control circuit group connected to the main control circuit in series, the sub-control circuit group being configured to transfer image data from the main control circuit downstream; and a head group configured to be driven by the sub-control circuit group. The sub-control circuit group has at least two sub-control circuits including a second sub-control circuit and a first sub-control circuit connected to the second sub-control circuit at an upstream of the second sub-control circuit. The image data includes second image data and first image data. The main control circuit is configured to: transmit the second image data to the second sub-control circuit; and transmit the first image data to the first sub-control circuit after the transmitting of the second image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventor: Katsunori SAKAI
  • Patent number: 11593574
    Abstract: In a printer, a controller controls a printing portion to execute a sample print to print on a sheet a plurality of barcodes. Each of the plurality of barcodes is represented by a received barcode data and printed in a different printing condition. The controller controls a reading portion to read the plurality of barcodes printed on the sheet in the sample print process to obtain a plurality of sets of scan data corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of barcodes. The controller performs a quality determination process to determine qualities of the plurality of printed barcodes based on the respective ones of the plurality of sets of scan data, and a printing condition setting process to set a printing condition based on the qualities determined in the quality determination process. The set printing condition is to be used to print a barcode by the printing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuru Nakamura, Hideyuki Kusunoki, Yuji Sato, Keita Koyama, Katsunori Sakai, Akidi Yoshida, Ayaka Oba
  • Patent number: 11459199
    Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus, including: a casing having a discharge opening and a conveyance route; a roller; a driving source; a printing head; a scanner disposed at a downstream side in a discharge direction; and a controller. The controller is configured to, depending on a printing preparation command, detect a leading-end position of a sheet; determine whether a printing surface of the sheet includes an error position that is not suitable for printing; and convey the sheet until the error position reaches the downstream position from the printing head. Then, the controller controls the printing head to execute printing of an image on the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Koyama, Jyunji Maeda, Katsunori Sakai, Mitsuru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11237607
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface configured to connect with a plurality of external devices and supply an electric power to each of the external devices connected with the interface, the plurality of external devices including a first device having a battery and a second device, and a controller configured to, when the first device and the second device are connected with the interface, determine whether the first device satisfies a first condition concerning charging of the battery of the first device, and in response to determining that the first device satisfies the first condition, make a specific ratio of an electric power to be supplied to the first device via the interface to an electric power to be supplied to the second device via the interface larger than when it is determined that the first device does not satisfy the first condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Sakai, Hajime Usami
  • Patent number: 11223734
    Abstract: A CPU of a printer requests a first external device to supply electric power via a first interface through communications according to the USB standard. When the CPU determines that the requested electric power is to be unsupplied from the first external device, the CPU requests a second external device to supply the electric power via a second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsunori Sakai, Hajime Usami
  • Publication number: 20210303804
    Abstract: In a printer, a controller controls a printing portion to execute a sample print to print on a sheet a plurality of barcodes. Each of the plurality of barcodes is represented by a received barcode data and printed in a different printing condition. The controller controls a reading portion to read the plurality of barcodes printed on the sheet in the sample print process to obtain a plurality of sets of scan data corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of barcodes. The controller performs a quality determination process to determine qualities of the plurality of printed barcodes based on the respective ones of the plurality of sets of scan data, and a printing condition setting process to set a printing condition based on the qualities determined in the quality determination process. The set printing condition is to be used to print a barcode by the printing portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuru NAKAMURA, Hideyuki KUSUNOKI, Yuji SATO, Keita KOYAMA, Katsunori SAKAI, Akidi YOSHIDA, Ayaka OBA
  • Patent number: 11023031
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, including a power source, an image engine, an interface to communicate with an external device and deliver power from the power source to the external device, and a controller, is provided. The controller is configured to detect connection of the external device to the interface; receive power information, including a value of regular operable power and a value of minimum operable power, from the external device; receive a job execution command; in response to receiving the job execution command, determine whether a first power value including the value of the regular operable power exceeds a value of power available for the external device during a predetermined operation by the image engine; and in response to a determination that the first power value exceeds the value of power available for the external device, control the power source to deliver the minimum operable power to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Sakai, Mitsuru Nakamura, Hajime Usami
  • Patent number: 10948961
    Abstract: An electronic device, including a power source, power-consuming devices, a USB interface, a command receiver, a memory, and a controller, is provided. The controller forecasts at least one of the power-consuming devices to be used in one of a plurality of time segments, calculates a level of total operation power being sum of power required by the forecasted at least one of the power-consuming devices for the time segment with reference to values of power stored in the memory, and determine a level of the power to be delivered to an external device connected to the USB interface in the time segment based on the level of the total operation power and the level of the power capacity in the power source. The controller controls the power source to deliver the determined level of the power to the external device through the USB interface during the time segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Sakai, Mitsuru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10728411
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a power supply; a first interface; a first controller configured to control communication with the external device via the first interface, the communication including communication relating to image data and communication relating to power exchange to and from the external device; a second controller configured to control power fed from the power supply to the external device connected to the first interface, based on information obtained by the communication relating to power exchange to and from the external device; and a first path switch configured to: form a first communication path connecting the first controller and the first interface in a first power mode; and form a second communication path connecting the second controller and the first interface without via the first controller in a second power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsunori Sakai, Takayuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20200207565
    Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus, including: a casing having a discharge opening and a conveyance route; a roller; a driving source; a printing head; a scanner disposed at a downstream side in a discharge direction; and a controller. The controller is configured to, depending on a printing preparation command, detect a leading-end position of a sheet; determine whether a printing surface of the sheet includes an error position that is not suitable for printing; and convey the sheet until the error position reaches the downstream position from the printing head. Then, the controller controls the printing head to execute printing of an image on the sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Keita KOYAMA, Jyunji MAEDA, Katsunori SAKAI, Mitsuru NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 10661544
    Abstract: An application method of applying a film F having a main portion 71, an extended portion 72 connected to a first end 71x of the main portion 71, and an extended portion 73 connected to a second end 71y opposing the first end 71x in the main portion 71 to a base material by an application device having an application mechanism, including the steps of: pressing the extended portion 72 using the application mechanism; applying the main portion 71 to the base material by moving the application mechanism that presses the extended portion 72 from the extended portion 72 to the extended portion 73 via the main portion 71; and stopping the application mechanism moved to the extended portion 73 and separating the application mechanism from the extended portion 73.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Masayuki Kubota, Taishi Tokunaga, Takayoshi Fujino, Katsunori Sakai, Hiroki Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 10507634
    Abstract: An application device that applies an adhesive-backed film to a base material having a bonding surface, along a first direction which is an extending direction of the base material, comprises: an application mechanism having an application unit that applies the film from a first end to a second end in the first direction on the base material by pressing the film; and a film gripping part that grips an end portion of the film on the second end side and can be driven in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and is a direction in which the bonding surface and the film are opposed to each other, wherein the application unit presses the film by moving in the first and second directions relative to the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Compnay
    Inventors: Masayuki Kubota, Taishi Tokunaga, Takayoshi Fujino, Katsunori Sakai, Hiroki Wakamatsu
  • Publication number: 20190268493
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a power supply; a first interface; a first controller configured to control communication with the external device via the first interface, the communication including communication relating to image data and communication relating to power exchange to and from the external device; a second controller configured to control power fed from the power supply to the external device connected to the first interface, based on information obtained by the communication relating to power exchange to and from the external device; and a first path switch configured to: form a first communication path connecting the first controller and the first interface in a first power mode; and form a second communication path connecting the second controller and the first interface without via the first controller in a second power mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Katsunori SAKAI, Takayuki SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20190238706
    Abstract: A CPU of a printer requests a first external device to supply electric power via a first interface through communications according to the USB standard. When the CPU determines that the requested electric power is to be unsupplied from the first external device, the CPU requests a second external device to supply the electric power via a second interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Katsunori SAKAI, Hajime USAMI
  • Publication number: 20180284861
    Abstract: An electronic device, including a power source, power-consuming devices, a USB interface, a command receiver, a memory, and a controller, is provided. The controller forecasts at least one of the power-consuming devices to be used in one of a plurality of time segments, calculates a level of total operation power being sum of power required by the forecasted at least one of the power-consuming devices for the time segment with reference to values of power stored in the memory, and determine a level of the power to be delivered to an external device connected to the USB interface in the time segment based on the level of the total operation power and the level of the power capacity in the power source. The controller controls the power source to deliver the determined level of the power to the external device through the USB interface during the time segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Katsunori Sakai, Mitsuru Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20180284862
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface configured to connect with a plurality of external devices and supply an electric power to each of the external devices connected with the interface, the plurality of external devices including a first device having a battery and a second device, and a controller configured to, when the first device and the second device are connected with the interface, determine whether the first device satisfies a first condition concerning charging of the battery of the first device, and in response to determining that the first device satisfies the first condition, make a specific ratio of an electric power to be supplied to the first device via the interface to an electric power to be supplied to the second device via the interface larger than when it is determined that the first device does not satisfy the first condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Katsunori Sakai, Hajime Usami
  • Publication number: 20180284866
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, including a power source, an image engine, an interface to communicate with an external device and deliver power from the power source to the external device, and a controller, is provided. The controller is configured to detect connection of the external device to the interface; receive power information, including a value of regular operable power and a value of minimum operable power, from the external device; receive a job execution command; in response to receiving the job execution command, determine whether a first power value including the value of the regular operable power exceeds a value of power available for the external device during a predetermined operation by the image engine; and in response to a determination that the first power value exceeds the value of power available for the external device, control the power source to deliver the minimum operable power to the external device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Katsunori Sakai, Mitsuru Nakamura, Hajime Usami
  • Patent number: 9616658
    Abstract: A waveform selecting process includes selecting one of a plurality of kinds of driving waveforms for each of a plurality of dot elements, based on a density value set to each of the plurality of dot elements in image data. The waveform selecting process includes, for a dot element array of each of the plurality of ejection ports: determining whether a dot element corresponding to a target dot has a second density value and determining whether a subsequent dot element corresponding to a subsequent dot has a first density value and, when both determinations are positive, setting the dot element corresponding to the target dot as a correction-target dot element, the subsequent dot being subsequent to the target dot in the formation order; and selecting one of a first driving waveform and a second driving waveform as a driving waveform of a correction-target dot element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuaki Suzuki, Katsunori Sakai, Motohiro Tsuboi
  • Publication number: 20170015090
    Abstract: An application method of applying a film F having a main portion 71, an extended portion 72 connected to a first end 71x of the main portion 71, and an extended portion 73 connected to a second end 71y opposing the first end 71x in the main portion 71 to a base material by an application device having an application mechanism, including the steps of: pressing the extended portion 72 using the application mechanism; applying the main portion 71 to the base material by moving the application mechanism that presses the extended portion 72 from the extended portion 72 to the extended portion 73 via the main portion 71; and stopping the application mechanism moved to the extended portion 73 and separating the application mechanism from the extended portion 73.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Masayuki Kubota, Taishi Tokunaga, Takayoshi Fujino, Katsunori Sakai, Hiroki Wakamatsu
  • Publication number: 20160347058
    Abstract: A waveform selecting process includes selecting one of a plurality of kinds of driving waveforms for each of a plurality of dot elements, based on a density value set to each of the plurality of dot elements in image data. The waveform selecting process includes, for a dot element array of each of the plurality of ejection ports: determining whether a dot element corresponding to a target dot has a second density value and determining whether a subsequent dot element corresponding to a subsequent dot has a first density value and, when both determinations are positive, setting the dot element corresponding to the target dot as a correction-target dot element, the subsequent dot being subsequent to the target dot in the formation order; and selecting one of a first driving waveform and a second driving waveform as a driving waveform of a correction-target dot element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Katsuaki SUZUKI, Katsunori SAKAI, Motohiro TSUBOI