Patents by Inventor Kazuo Koike

Kazuo Koike 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: 8572939
    Abstract: A riding work vehicle that includes a running electric motor unit running and driving a driving wheel unit; a speed setting operation unit operated by a driver to set a target running speed; a working electric motor driving a work device that performs work on a worked object around a vehicle body corresponding to running of the vehicle body; and an exceptional speed controller that performs exceptional speed control to control the running electric motor unit at an exceptional speed lower than the target running speed in a case where load of the working electric motor evaluated by a work load evaluator that evaluates load of the working electric motor is abnormal load higher than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Koike, Hirokazu Ito
  • Patent number: 8553276
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a contact glass having a light control glass part having transmittance changeable by an applied voltage; a scanner part reading an original placed on an original placement surface of the contact glass and outputting image data in a storage part; a projector part projecting image information onto the contact glass from a side opposite to the original placement surface; and a control part controlling the voltage applied to the light controlling glass part. When the scanner part is operated, the control part causes the transmittance of the contact glass to increase and the projector part stops projecting the image information, and when the scanner part is not operated, the control part causes the transmittance of the contact glass to decrease and the projector part projects the image data stored in the storage part onto the contact glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tasuku Kohara, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Taisuke Omi, Tsuyoshi Endoh, Hiroshi Takeda, Hiroki Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 8482518
    Abstract: An input apparatus for a user to input an instruction into a body apparatus is disclosed. The input apparatus includes: a projection unit configured to project images of a plurality of virtual keys onto a projection area on a floor surface; a position detection unit configured to detect position information of a foot of the user put on the projection area; and a key detection unit configured to detect a virtual key corresponding to a position of the foot of the user from among the virtual keys based on information on the images of the virtual keys and a result of detection by the position detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tasuku Kohara, Kenichi Yamada, Kazuo Koike, Taisuke Omi, Tsuyoshi Endoh
  • Patent number: 8462393
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a scanner part reading an original on a contact glass, and a projector part projecting image information onto the contact glass as first image displaying. The projector part projects thumbnails or an image to have an image processing operation carried out or be printed. The display part carries out second image displaying obtained from reducing the first image displaying in size. At a time of the scanner part being operated, transmittance of the contact glass is increased and the projector part stops projecting the image information, and at a time of the scanner part not being operated, the transmittance of the contact glass is decreased and the projector part carries out the first image displaying. Setting of the image processing operation for the image data is reflected on the first image displaying and the second image displaying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tasuku Kohara, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Taisuke Omi, Tsuyoshi Endoh, Hiroshi Takeda, Hiroki Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 8339358
    Abstract: An input apparatus for enabling a user to enter an instruction into a main apparatus has high durability and offers superior operability. The input apparatus includes a table device having a table with a variable size. An image of plural virtual keys that is adapted to the size of the table is projected by a projector unit onto the table. Position information about a finger of the user that is placed on the table is detected by a position detecting device contactlessly. One of the plural virtual keys that corresponds to the position of the finger of the user detected by the position detecting device is detected by a key detecting device based on information about the image of the plural virtual keys and a result of the detection made by the position detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tasuku Kohara, Kenichi Yamada, Kazuo Koike, Taisuke Omi, Tsuyoshi Endoh
  • Publication number: 20120323420
    Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle includes a maneuvering unit, a drive unit including first and second drive sections, which are driven and controlled by drive wheel control commands, a drive wheel unit including left and right drive wheels driven by the first and second drive sections, respectively, at least one caster wheel which is controlled by a caster wheel control command, a bank detector for detecting a degree of bank of the vehicle and a control unit including a drive wheel control section for generating the drive wheel control commands. The control unit further includes a caster wheel control section which generates the caster wheel control command for controlling the steering angle of the caster wheel during a bank traversing travel, based on the bank degree so as to resolve a difference between a target travel and the actual travel which occurs during the bank traversing travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo Koike, Hirokazu Ito, Yoshikazu Togoshi
  • Publication number: 20120238403
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a pair of electric motors independently running and driving right and left running wheels in a state of being able to create straight running state and turning running; a pair of right and left change speed operation tools independently manually operated and performing a change speed operation to the right and left running wheels; and a controller controlling operation. The controller controls the operation of the respective electric motors by setting target speeds with regard to the respective electric motors such that the speed difference in the target speeds is smaller than the speed difference corresponding to the difference in the operation positions of the respective change speed operation tools by a set amount in a case where the operation positions of the respective change speed operation tools are different between right and left.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo KOIKE, Hirokazu ITO
  • Publication number: 20120227368
    Abstract: The present invention provides a riding work vehicle that includes a running electric motor unit running and driving a driving wheel unit; a speed setting operation unit operated by a driver to set a target running speed; a working electric motor driving a work device that performs work on a worked object around a vehicle body corresponding to running of the vehicle body; and an exceptional speed controller that performs exceptional speed control to control the running electric motor unit at an exceptional speed lower than the target running speed in a case where load of the working electric motor evaluated by a work load evaluator that evaluates load of the working electric motor is abnormal load higher than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo KOIKE, Hirokazu ITO
  • Publication number: 20120227369
    Abstract: The present invention provides a riding work vehicle that includes a vehicle body having a driver seat; a driving wheel unit supporting the vehicle body; a working electric motor that drives a work unit having a work device; an electric motor controller controlling an operation of the working electric motor in a steady mode or a power saving mode in which consumed power is smaller than the steady mode; and a work load evaluator that evaluates load of the working electric motor. In the riding work vehicle, the electric motor controller operates the working electric motor in the power saving mode in a case where the load of the working electric motor evaluated by the work load evaluator is low load lower than a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuo KOIKE, Hirokazu ITO
  • Publication number: 20120200874
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a main body of the electronic apparatus; an operation unit including an operation block having a display unit, the operation block being detachable with respect to the main body of the electronic apparatus, and the operation block enabling at least a bidirectional wireless communication with the main body of the electronic apparatus; and a detection unit configured to detect relative positional information between the operation block and the main body of the electronic apparatus, when the operation block is detached from the main body of the electronic apparatus. The operation block being detached from the main body of the electronic apparatus is able to display information corresponding to the relative positional information on the display unit, in accordance with a condition of the main body of the electronic apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: Tasuku KOHARA, Hiroshi Takeda, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Taisuke Omi, Tsuyoshi Endoh, Masaaki Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8156722
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mower with a mower deck, a plurality of cutting chambers mutually communicated and arranged in a lateral direction within the mower deck, and a blade mounted in each cutting chamber to be rotatable about a vertical axis. A grass clippings guide in form of a vertical wall is disposed in an upper area within the cutting chamber, to guide the grass clippings flowing within the cutting chamber toward a center of rotation of the blade. A shield member is disposed for preventing entry of grass clippings between the grass clippings guide and a peripheral wall of the cutting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Akihito Sugio, Kazuo Sameshiima, Akira Minoura, Masatake Murakawa, Masatoshi Yamaguchi, Kazuo Koike, Masato Asahara, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Osami Fujiwara, Koji Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8099938
    Abstract: A rear discharge type mower apparatus includes: a blade housing having a top plate, a front wall and at least one side wall and a first front guide plate and a second front guide plate. Each of the first and second front guide plates are located rearwardly of the front wall and have a shape extending substantially along a rotation path of a corresponding blade. The mower apparatus also includes a first auxiliary plate and a second auxiliary plate. A portion of the second auxiliary plate and the first auxiliary plate extend parallel to each other such that an opening that is opposed to a mowed grass discharge opening is formed by the rearward ends of the linear portion and the first auxiliary plate. The lower edges of the first and second auxiliary plates are closer to the top plate than the corresponding blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Masaji Kure, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Koji Fujiwara, Kazuo Samejima, Masatoshi Yamaguchi, Kazuo Koike, Yoshiyuki Esaki
  • Patent number: 8087221
    Abstract: A mower unit includes a mower deck mounting therein in parallel layout first, second and third rotary blades rotatably driven about vertical axes and a washing device. The mower deck includes a top wall, side walls and first, second and third auxiliary side walls for evacuation. The washing device includes a single water supplying unit disposed upwardly of the top wall for supplying washing water and first, second and third water discharging units disposed through the first, second and third auxiliary side walls for discharging water to the first, second and third rotary blades respectively. The washing device includes also a water supplying pipe unit interconnecting and communicating the water supplying unit to the first, second and third water discharging units. The water supplying pipe unit is disposed within a mower deck rear space delimited by outer faces of the first, second and third auxiliary side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Akihito Sugio, Akira Minoura, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Eiji Satou, Takahiro Shiraga, Kazuo Koike, Motosumi Shiotsuki, Yusuke Shoji
  • Patent number: 8085242
    Abstract: An input control device and an image forming apparatus capable of providing an easy-to-use operating environment even for a user having difficulties operating such conventional devices and apparatuses due to his/her height, color vision deficiency, weak vision, use of a wheelchair, and the like is disclosed. In the input control device, based on the detected distance between an instruction item on the display and an operation direction element (such as a user's finger), the display mode of the instruction item is changed (by, for example, changing positions, colors, and combinations). Further, as the operation direction element approaches, the size of the instruction item on the display becomes larger, thereby improving the operability especially for a user with color vision deficiency or weak vision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Endoh, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Tasuku Kohara, Taisuke Omi, Takashi Inoue, Hiroki Tsuruoka, Yoshiaki Nishizaki
  • Publication number: 20110232250
    Abstract: A mower unit is disclosed, including a mower deck mounting therein in parallel layout first, second and third rotary blades rotatably driven about vertical axes and a washing device. The mower deck includes a top wall, side walls and first, second and third auxiliary side walls for evacuation, the auxiliary side walls having shapes along at least a machine body rear portion of the rotary path of each rotary blade. The washing device includes a single water supplying unit disposed upwardly of the top wall for supplying washing water and first, second and third water discharging units disposed through the first, second and third auxiliary side walls for discharging water to the first, second and third rotary blades respectively. The washing device includes also a water supplying pipe unit interconnecting and communicating the water supplying unit to the first, second and third water discharging units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Akihito Sugio, Akira Minoura, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Eiji Satou, Takahiro Shiraga, Kazuo Koike, Motosumi Shiotsuki, Yusuke Shoji
  • Publication number: 20110228285
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a contact glass having a light control glass part having transmittance changeable by an applied voltage; a scanner part reading an original placed on an original placement surface of the contact glass and outputting image data in a storage part; a projector part projecting image information onto the contact glass from a side opposite to the original placement surface; and a control part controlling the voltage applied to the light controlling glass part. When the scanner part is operated, the control part causes the transmittance of the contact glass to increase and the projector part stops projecting the image information, and when the scanner part is not operated, the control part causes the transmittance of the contact glass to decrease and the projector part projects the image data stored in the storage part onto the contact glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Tasuku KOHARA, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Taisuke Omi, Tsuyoshi Endoh, Hiroshi Takeda, Hiroki Tsuruoka
  • Publication number: 20110228347
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a scanner part reading an original on a contact glass, and a projector part projecting image information onto the contact glass as first image displaying. The projector part projects thumbnails or an image to have an image processing operation carried out or be printed. The display part carries out second image displaying obtained from reducing the first image displaying in size. At a time of the scanner part being operated, transmittance of the contact glass is increased and the projector part stops projecting the image information, and at a time of the scanner part not being operated, the transmittance of the contact glass is decreased and the projector part carries out the first image displaying. Setting of the image processing operation for the image data is reflected on the first image displaying and the second image displaying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Tasuku KOHARA, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Taisuke Omi, Tsuyoshi Endoh, Hiroshi Takeda, Hiroki Tsuruoka
  • Publication number: 20110221735
    Abstract: Provided are a control panel or a display as well as an image processing apparatus and an electronic calculating apparatus using the electronic device or the display, the electronic device and the display each using a light transmissive solar cell for electric power generation so as to allow a solar cell part and a display part to be disposed to overlap an input part so that a larger electric power than the conventional cases can be generated without increasing the size of the whole operation panel and the whole display. An electronic device of the present invention includes: a display part capable of electrically and magnetically changing a display region and displaying of a display content displayed in the display region; a solar cell part that transmits light in a visible light region; and an input part that detects whether or not any part of the display region is manipulated, and that transmits light in a visible light region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Akira IMAI, Taisuke Omi, Yoshiaki Nishizaki, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Tasuku Kohara, Tsuyoshi Endoh, Hiroshi Takeda, Hiroki Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 8019251
    Abstract: An angular position adjusting apparatus for adjusting the angular position of a control panel of an image processing apparatus is disclosed that includes a rotary member attached to the control panel, an input part for generating an input signal indicative of changing the angular position of the control panel, a motor part connected to the rotary member for changing the angular position of the control panel by driving the rotary member, and a setting part for setting the angular position of the control panel in correspondence with the power status of the image processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Yamada, Kazuo Koike, Tasuku Kohara, Takashi Inoue
  • Patent number: D693373
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Motosumi Shiotsuki, Akira Minoura, Kazuo Koike, Hirokazu Ito