Patents by Inventor Kazuhisa Hirono

Kazuhisa Hirono 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: 5647676
    Abstract: A document processing device including a keyboard for inputting various data and instructions, a print mechanism for printing on a print medium dot pattern data which are developed in a print data buffer, a memory for storing input data of characters and symbols, and a controller for controlling the keyboard, a display and the print mechanism, a block indication unit for inputting, from the keyboard, block indication data which are indicated as a block for each array of plural characters and symbols at a data input time, and storing the block indication data into the memory with the data of the plural characters and symbols of the block, and a block border ruled line data preparing unit for calculating a block size for each block using the data of the memory, and developing the ruled line data of a rectangular block border into the print data buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Chitoshi Ito, Kazuhisa Hirono, Akihiko Niwa, Sachiko Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 5609424
    Abstract: When a label name is selected, a plurality of prompt associated with the selected label name are displayed one after the other on a display so that a user can easily know what text data needs to be inputted. The text memory stores text data inputted as prompted by each of the plurality of prompts associated with the selected label name. Also the text memory retrieves, from a registration layout information memory, print layout information for printing the inputted text data. The print mechanism prints the text data stored in the text memory on a tape based on the print layout information. In this way, a label printed with the text data, that can be adhered to the binding of files and the like, can be produced quickly and easily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Sakuragi, Hideo Ueno, Shiro Yamada, Mayumi Nishio, Kazuhisa Hirono, Kazumi Kanda, Sachiyo Nakahigashi, Sachiko Nakagawa, Akihiro Sawada
  • Patent number: 5606658
    Abstract: A tape printer capable of simply printing character strings of inputted text in a variety of text row shapes, wherein, when a character string ABCD is developed into a dot pattern data according to a pattern number 1, first the lower edge of the character pattern for character A is aligned with the alignment standard position KP1 (baseline) and arranged in the print buffer. Then the character sizes of the characters B, C, and D are each increased compared to a respective previous character by the size change amount calculated in the size change amount calculation process control. With each increase, the lower edges of the character pattern is aligned with the alignment standard position KP1 and the resultant character patterns are arranged in order in the print buffer. The character string is printed in a character string shape based on the dot pattern data developed in the print buffer so that character sizes of characters in the character string ABCD gradually increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Hirono
  • Patent number: 5579041
    Abstract: A print device capable of printing a border, having a complicated shape, around characters input at a keyboard or other input device. Border data representing many varieties of border lines are stored in a border storage memory. Document data corresponding to the input characters are positioned with respect to the border data in a print buffer. Different types of border lines may be selected and combined to form a desired border around the input characters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Hirono
  • Patent number: 5551785
    Abstract: When an enlargement print key is pressed, a label producing apparatus enters a mode for setting the enlargement magnification used for enlargement printing. Next, a number key is operated to actually set the enlargement magnification. After the creation of print image data, respective data are taken from a table in which the respective data about widths of printing tapes, the number of printing tape segments based on width of tape and enlargement magnification, and "an enlargement start bit position," "an enlargement end bit position," "an enlargement work start bit position 1," "an enlargement work start bit position 2" and "the number of shifts for adjustment" with respect to each tape width which have been specified to thereby create one-dot string data. When it is desired, for example, to scale up and print data associated with a 12-mm tape width in 3.times. magnification, the enlargement print data is printed on the corresponding printing tape by being divided into three at 12-mm width intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaharu Mori, Hideo Ueno, Kazuhisa Hirono, Akihiko Niwa
  • Patent number: 5462372
    Abstract: After a character key provided on a keyboard has been operated to input a text, it is determined using a cut-mark key or the like whether or not a cut mark exists. If it is determined that the cut mark exists, the position for printing the cut mark can be set on a liquid crystal display based on width data extending from an upper end of a tape. Then, the cut mark is printed on the tape together with a text in a text memory, based on the cut mark whose position has been set, thereby producing a tape with characters applied thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Hirono
  • Patent number: 5447383
    Abstract: A tape printing apparatus having a detection member which detects movement of a tape cutter to its tape cutting direction. A control system is provided for stopping tape feeding and tape printing operation when the detection member detects the movement of the tape cutter for preventing the print tape from being entangled with an internal mechanical component. Printing operation for one train of dots read from a print buffer is performed when a print key is operated and the count value of a tape feed counter is incremented by 1 dot. Such steps are repeatedly performed if no cutting operation is made by means of a cutting control button and If tape feed count value is not coincident with cut position data, and if a sequence of printing processes have not yet been completed. On the other hand, if the cutting control button is operated while a printing operation is being performed, the printing operation and tape feeding operation are stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Hirono, Akihiko Niwa, Chitoshi Ito, Mayumi Nishio
  • Patent number: 5374130
    Abstract: A device is provided that produces a label used for a cord. The device is capable of forming winding margins coincident with the particular size of various power cords by a simple operation and is capable of creating cord labels easily affixed to the respective power cords. When cord labels are wound on the periphery of a cord, a required winding margin is set corresponding to the size of the cord, and text is printed on at least one side of the winding margin. Further, preferably when the texts are printed on both sides, a straight line is printed at the intermediate position of the margin to extend in the transverse direction of the label to aid in positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Hirono
  • Patent number: 5302038
    Abstract: Operation of a double-line printing key, and selection of an upper printing line or a lower printing line causes the indication of subsequent input character data to follow either an upper printing line mark or a lower printing line mark, for example, on an LCD. When a printing key is operated, the character data following the upper printing line mark are stored in a first arrangement memory, and the data following the lower printing line mark are stored in a second arrangement memory. When the number of characters to be printed in the upper line is different from the number of characters to be printed in the lower line, space data are inserted into the printing line (upper or lower) which has the lesser number of characters so that the length of the upper printing line and the lower printing line become the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Hirono, Yasuyo Ooshio, Takashi Ito
  • Patent number: 5230572
    Abstract: A tape printer automatically expands an input character string up to the length of a desired printing range. Operating a fixed length key after input of printing data causes an indication, for example, "PRINTING LENGTH: 10" to appear. The "PRINTING LENGTH" indication is varied by, for example, rotating a character selecting dial. When a printing key is operated, an actually printable dot column count is determined from the selected printing length. The dot column count minus the total character width (dot column count required to print all desired characters) provides a margin space YS. If the margin space is equal to or greater than the total character spacing (i.e., the number of inter-character positions), a new margin space YS is determined, and the character spacing value is incremented by one dot column. The characters are then printed on the printing tape using the spacing value thus obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1993
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Hirono, Yasuyo Ooshio, Takashi Ito
  • Patent number: RE35562
    Abstract: A tape printer automatically expands an input character string up to the length of a desired printing range. Operating a fixed length key after input of printing data causes an indication, for example, "PRINTING LENGTH: 10" to appear. The "PRINTING LENGTH" indication is varied by, for example, rotating a character selecting dial. When a printing key is operated, an actually printable dot column count is determined from the selected printing length. The dot column count minus the total character width (dot column count required to print all desired characters) provides a margin space YS. If the margin space is equal to or greater than the total character spacing (i.e., the number of inter-character positions), a new margin space YS is determined, and the character spacing value is incremented by one dot column. The characters are then printed on the printing tape using the spacing value thus obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Hirono, Yasuyo Ooshio, Takashi Ito