Patents by Inventor Ken Kikuchi

Ken Kikuchi 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).

  • Image forming apparatus and cartridge used therein
    Patent number: 9766587
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a cartridge. The main assembly includes a mounting portion for mounting the cartridge and a door for causing the mounting portion to be in an open state and a closed state. The main assembly or the cartridge includes an expansion and contraction member for displacing at least a part of the cartridge. Opening and closing of the door is interrelated with expansion and contraction of the expansion and contraction member. In the closed state, the cartridge mounted in the mounting portion is in a first position, inside the main assembly, where an image is formable. In the open state, the cartridge mounted in the mounting portion is in a second position where at least a part thereof projects to an outside of the main assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Hiramatsu, Tomonori Mori, Ken Kikuchi
  • PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER CARTRIDGE AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE
    Publication number: 20170261923
    Abstract: A photosensitive member cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus for forming an image, includes a frame; a photosensitive drum on which and which is provided in the frame; a transfer member for transferring an image formed on the drum onto the sheet; a mounting portion for detachably mounting a developing cartridge including a developer carrying member onto the drum and a memory for storing information; a first electrical contact provided on the frame and electrically connectable with a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; and a second electrical contact provided on the frame for electrically connecting the memory and the first electrical contact portion with each other when the developing cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Jun Miyamoto, Masao Uyama, Kenji Matsuda, Ken Kikuchi, Jun Miyazaki
  • Comparator unit, display, and method of driving display
    Patent number: 9697766
    Abstract: A comparator unit includes: a comparison section configured to compare a control pulse with an electric potential based on a signal voltage; and a control section configured to control, based on the control pulse, operation and non-operation of the comparison section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken Kikuchi, Takaaki Sugiyama, Takehiro Misonou, Genichiro Oga, Takahiro Kita
  • COMPARATOR CIRCUIT, COMPARATOR CIRCUIT CONTROL METHOD, A/D CONVERSION CIRCUIT, AND DISPLAY APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170163253
    Abstract: A comparator circuit includes a differential circuit unit which detects a difference between two input signals, a current supply unit which supplies a current to the differential circuit unit, and a control unit which detects an operation timing of the differential circuit unit and controls the current supplied to the differential circuit unit by the current supply unit according to a detection result thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Sugiyama, Ken Kitamura, Masaki Yoshioka, Ken Kikuchi
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DRAWER MEMBER
    Publication number: 20170131678
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a drawer movable while supporting an cartridge including a photosensitive drum between an inside position and an outside position; an optical unit in the main assembly to project light onto the drum a shutter member provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position an operating portion to move the shutter member from the open position to the closing position in a process of movement of the drawer from the inside position to the outside position and to move the shutter member from the closing position to the open position in a process of movement of the drawer from the outside position to the inside position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Takahiro Sakamoto, Yuichi Sakakibara, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko, Takashi Akutsu, Daisuke Abe, Ken Kikuchi
  • MOUNTING SUBSTRATE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170103926
    Abstract: A mounting substrate according to an embodiment of the present technology includes: a wiring substrate (30); a plurality of light-emitting elements (12) arranged in a matrix on the wiring substrate; and a plurality of drive ICs (13) that are arranged in a matrix on the wiring substrate, and control light emission of the light-emitting elements. The light-emitting elements and the drive ICs are mounted on a same surface. The wiring substrate includes a plurality of first wiring lines (16) on a mounting surface whre the light-emitting elements and the dive ICs are mounted. The first wiring lines electrically couple the light-emitting elements to the drive ICs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Aoyagi, Ken Kikuchi, Katsuhiro Tomoda
  • Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 9620409
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes processes of forming a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode on a nitride semiconductor layer, forming an insulating film including, on a surface thereof, a step that covers the gate electrode and reflects a shape of the gate electrode, and a flat portion, forming a mask on the insulating film, forming an opening in the mask, the opening including a shape in which a side surface of the step is located on an inner side of the opening and an upper surface end portion of the gate electrode is located on an outer side of the opening, and having an overhang shape extending in a depth direction, and forming a field plate extending from a side surface of the step to the flat portion using the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Kikuchi
  • Comparator circuit, comparator circuit control method, A/D conversion circuit, and display apparatus
    Patent number: 9608614
    Abstract: A comparator circuit includes a differential circuit unit which detects a difference between two input signals, a current supply unit which supplies a current to the differential circuit unit, and a control unit which detects an operation timing of the differential circuit unit and controls the current supplied to the differential circuit unit by the current supply unit according to a detection result thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Sugiyama, Ken Kitamura, Masaki Yoshioka, Ken Kikuchi
  • Image forming apparatus and drawer member
    Patent number: 9606501
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a drawer movable while supporting an cartridge including a photosensitive drum between an inside position and an outside position; an optical unit in the main assembly to project light onto the drum a shutter member provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position an operating portion to move the shutter member from the open position to the closing position in a process of movement of the drawer from the inside position to the outside position and to move the shutter member from the closing position to the open position in a process of movement of the drawer from the outside position to the inside position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Sakamoto, Yuichi Sakakibara, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko, Takashi Akutsu, Daisuke Abe, Ken Kikuchi
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20170060081
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, a guide portion provided to a supporting member, engages a cartridge and guides the cartridge, to move the cartridge toward a mounting portion. A regulated portion provided to a frame, and a regulating portion provided to the supporting member, regulates the position of the regulated portion when the cartridge is at a position not engaged with the guide portion. The supporting member is configured with an upstream side of a light emitting surface being opened with regard to mounting the cartridge to the mounting portion in the mounting direction. A gap is formed between the frame and the light emitting surface when the regulated portion is in contact with the regulating portion and the position of the regulated portion is being regulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Ken Kikuchi, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko
  • LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE DRIVING CIRCUIT, DISPLAY, AND A/D CONVERSION CIRCUIT
    Publication number: 20160351130
    Abstract: A light emitting device driving circuit according to the present disclosure includes a sawtooth waveform generating unit for generating a sawtooth waveform voltage having a sawtooth waveform voltage change based on at least two reference signals to be input and a comparison unit for comparing an analog signal voltage with the sawtooth waveform voltage. The light emitting device driving circuit drives a light emitting device based on the comparison result of the comparison unit. Accordingly, a comparison operation using a sawtooth waveform voltage having a waveform which is not disturbed is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Kikuchi, Hisao Sakurai
  • PHOTOSENSITIVE MEMBER CARTRIDGE AND PROCESS CARTRIDGE
    Publication number: 20160349699
    Abstract: A photosensitive member cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus for forming an image, includes a frame; a photosensitive drum on which and which is provided in the frame; a transfer member for transferring an image formed on the drum onto the sheet; a mounting portion for detachably mounting a developing cartridge including a developer carrying member onto the drum and a memory for storing information; a first electrical contact provided on the frame and electrically connectable with a main assembly electrical contact provided in the main assembly when the cartridge is mounted to the main assembly; and a second electrical contact provided on the frame for electrically connecting the memory and the first electrical contact portion with each other when the developing cartridge is mounted to the mounting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Jun Miyamoto, Masao Uyama, Kenji Matsuda, Ken Kikuchi, Jun Miyazaki
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CARTRIDGE USED THEREIN
    Publication number: 20160342133
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a cartridge. The main assembly includes a mounting portion for mounting the cartridge and a door for causing the mounting portion to be in an open state and a closed state. The main assembly or the cartridge includes an expansion and contraction member for displacing at least a part of the cartridge. Opening and closing of the door is interrelated with expansion and contraction of the expansion and contraction member. In the closed state, the cartridge mounted in the mounting portion is in a first position, inside the main assembly, where an image is formable. In the open state, the cartridge mounted in the mounting portion is in a second position where at least a part thereof projects to an outside of the main assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Daisuke Hiramatsu, Tomonori Mori, Ken Kikuchi
  • Displaying medium and displaying apparatus
    Patent number: 9477133
    Abstract: A display device may include a display portion to maintain a display state in accordance with a voltage applied thereto; and a plurality of light transmission regions adjacent to the display portion at positions corresponding to a plurality of light sources arranged over the display portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Ueda, Keisuke Hashimoto, Ken Kikuchi
  • Office chair
    Patent number: 9462891
    Abstract: A chair has a body support structure with a membrane that can be stretched in an intended three-dimensional shape. The structure includes a frame member in a three-dimensional shape and forming a three-dimensional body support face expanding in three axes (y-axis direction), (x-axis direction), and (z-axis direction) orthogonal to each other and a membrane with peripheral edge portion fixed to the frame member under no tension or tension lower than tension required of the body support face, which has different heat shrinkage ratios in two directions, and to which the tension required of the body support face is imparted by heat shrinkage by heating after the fixing and a difference in tension generated in the heat shrinkage of the membrane forms the three-dimensional body support face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Takano Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Kikuchi, Isao Okamoto, Yousuke Shirotori
  • ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20160274531
    Abstract: A drum supporting member, which is usable with an image forming apparatus, includes a photosensitive drum and a mounting portion for detachably mounting a developing cartridge. The drum mounting portion also includes a contacting member contactable with the developing cartridge, with contacting member being movable between a first position and a second position. When the contacting member is in the first position, the contacting member contacts the developing cartridge with a developing roller of the developing cartridge being placed in a third position contacting the photosensitive drum. When the contacting member is in the second position, the contacting member contacts the developing cartridge with the developing cartridge being placed in a fourth position in which the developing cartridge is dismountable from the drum supporting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventor: Ken Kikuchi
  • IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DRAWER MEMBER
    Publication number: 20160259294
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly provided with an opening; a drawer movable while supporting an cartridge including a photosensitive drum between an inside position and an outside position; an optical unit in the main assembly to project light onto the drum a shutter member provided in the main assembly and movable between a closing position and an open position an operating portion to move the shutter member from the open position to the closing position in a process of movement of the drawer from the inside position to the outside position and to move the shutter member from the closing position to the open position in a process of movement of the drawer from the outside position to the inside position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Takahiro Sakamoto, Yuichi Sakakibara, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko, Takashi Akutsu, Daisuke Abe, Ken Kikuchi
  • Cartridge supporting member having different moving direction guide portions
    Patent number: 9429900
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position in a state of carrying a first cartridge and a second cartridge, and a drawn position in which said first cartridge and said second cartridge are mountable and demountable relative to said cartridge supporting member. The supporting member includes a first mounting portion for a first cartridge, and a second mounting portion for a second cartridge which is disposed upstream of said first mounting portion with respect to a supporting member drawing direction. A first guide portion for the first cartridge, and a second guide portion for said second cartridge, wherein a downward movement distance of said second cartridge when the cartridge is demounted from said second mounting portion is larger than that of said first cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensuke Suzuki, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko, Ken Kikuchi
  • SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING PLATED METAL IN ELECTRODE AND PROCESS TO FORM THE SAME
    Publication number: 20160225888
    Abstract: A process to form an electrode of a semiconductor device is disclosed. The process includes steps of: forming the first electrode on the semiconductor layer; forming the first insulating film on the first electrode, where the first insulating film provides an opening that exposes a portion of the first electrode but fully covers the semiconductor layer; fully filling the opening by the second electrode; forming the mask so as to expose the second electrode but fully cover the sides of the second electrode; forming the third electrode in a region exposing from the mask; and removing the mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventor: Ken Kikuchi
  • Liquid crystal display with a higher luminance sub-pixel including controllable light emission subsections
    Patent number: 9401115
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes: a light source section including emission subsections; a LCD panel including pixels each having sub-pixels for four colors of R, G, B, and Z, and modulating light from the emission subsections based on input image signals for three colors of R, G, and B; and a display control section including a partitioning-drive processing section, driving the emission subsections with an emission pattern signal, and driving the four sub-pixels with partitioning-drive image signals for the four colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuyasu Asano, Tomohiro Nishi, Tomoya Yano, Ken Kikuchi