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).

  • Publication number: 20150187335
    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: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Sugiyama, Ken Kitamura, Masaki Yoshioka, Ken Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20150173514
    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: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: TAKANO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Kikuchi, Isao Okamoto, Yousuke SHIROTORI
  • Patent number: 9037039
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum; a cartridge including a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, the cartridge containing a developer for effecting development and including a force receiving portion, wherein the cartridge is mounted to a main assembly of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus; and an urging member for urging the cartridge; wherein by mounting the cartridge, the force receiving portion receives a force from the urging member to urge the developing roller to the electrophotographic photosensitive drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ken Kikuchi, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko, Takashi Akutsu
  • Patent number: 9026010
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body and a cartridge attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus body. The cartridge includes a handle portion attached to the case body and grasped when attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus body. The handle portion can be positioned at a first position at which the handle portion protrudes beyond the case body, a second position at which the handle portion is closer to the case body than in the case where the handle portion is at the first position and the cartridge that has been attached to the image forming apparatus body comes into contact with the open-close portion when the open-close portion is closed, and a third position at which the handle portion is closer to the case body than in the case where the handle portion is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Hiramatsu, Takashi Akutsu, Ken Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9014596
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including a transfer member for transferring a developed image formed on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a mounting portion for demountably mounting a cartridge, the image formation unit being movable, in a state that the cartridge is demountably mounted, between a transfer position for transferring the developed image, and a mounting and demounting position, different from the transfer position, and a regulating member for limiting movement of the cartridge mounted to the mounting portion, when the unit moves between the transfer position and the mounting and demounting position, the regulating member being movable between a regulating position for limiting the movement of the cartridge, and a permitting position for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridge, and the regulating member being in a regulating position when the unit moves between the transfer position and the mounting and demounting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Kikuchi, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko, Takashi Akutsu
  • Publication number: 20150093147
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, a developing cartridge, and a drum supporting frame detachably mountable to the main assembly while supporting the developing cartridge. The main assembly includes a door for opening and closing the main assembly, and a main assembly coupling engageable with a development coupling in interrelation with a closing operation of the door to transmit a driving force to the development coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8995874
    Abstract: Provided is a configuration in which a scanner is mounted to a cartridge door via an elastic member, and the scanner is positioned relative to a frame that can be mounted to and demounted from an apparatus main body and that supports an intermediate transfer member and a photosensitive member using an urging force of the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Akutsu, Ken Kikuchi, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko
  • Patent number: 8983334
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a door 10 openable with respect to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, a drum cartridge 8 detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus main assembly, and detachably mountable developing cartridges 4k-4y provided above the drum cartridge 8, wherein the door 10 includes a positioning urging portion 26 contacting the developing cartridges in a state in which the door 10 is closed, the door 10 includes drum cartridge mounting and demounting guides 28R and 28L for regulating the drum cartridge 8 so as to pass along a non-interference path with the positioning urging portion 26 in contact to the drum cartridge 8 when the drum cartridge 8 is demounted from the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Hiramatsu, Takashi Akutsu, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko, Ken Kikuchi, Kensuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8947330
    Abstract: There is provided a display device including a display unit having pixels, each of which includes a luminescence element that individually becomes luminous depending on a current amount and a pixel circuit for controlling a current applied to the luminescence element according to a voltage signal, where the pixels are arranged in a matrix pattern. The display device includes an average luminance calculator (200) for calculating average luminance for a predetermined period of the input picture signal, and also includes a luminous time setter (202) for setting an effective duty depending on the calculated average luminance by the average luminance calculator (200), the effective duty regulating for each one frame a luminous time for which the luminescence element is luminous. The luminous time setter (202) sets the effective duty such that a luminescence amount regulated by a preset reference duty and possible maximum luminance of a picture signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Inoue, Yoshihiro Kosugi, Ken Kikuchi, Takeya Meguro, Hideto Mori, Toyo Osumi
  • Publication number: 20150029418
    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: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Ueda, Keisuke Hashimoto, Ken Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8929772
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a developing roller for contacting the electrophotographic photosensitive member to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The developing cartridge also includes a force receiving portion, projected in an axial direction of the developing roller, for receiving a force for spacing the developing roller and the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8918015
    Abstract: A main cartridge attachable and detachable to and from an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium is provided. The main cartridge include a process device configured to act on a photosensitive member, a grip portion configured to be held by a user, and an attachment unit to attach a sub cartridge containing developer along the longitudinal direction of the main cartridge. In the longitudinal direction, the center position of the grip portion is disposed at the upstream side in the attachment direction of the sub cartridge from the center position of the main cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Sakakibara, Takashi Akutsu, Ken Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20140369714
    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: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kensuke Suzuki, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko, Ken Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20140363198
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is provided with guide portions to be used to mount a cartridge group including plural cartridges in the image forming apparatus. Some of the guide portions are used also to mount an alternative cartridge, which is configured to occupy two or more of plural mounting spaces, in the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Kensuke Suzuki, Daisuke Hiramatsu, Takashi Akutsu, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko, Ken Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20140339568
    Abstract: A process to form a substrate via hole is disclosed. The process includes steps of (1) forming a semiconductor layer on a substrate; (2) forming a gate and an auxiliary electrode simultaneously on a semiconductor layer; and (3) etching the substrate and the semiconductor layer from the back surface of the substrate to the auxiliary electrode to form a substrate via hole. A feature of the process is that the gate and the auxiliary electrode include a nickel or a metal primarily containing nickel in contact with the semiconductor layer. The nickel operates as an etching stopper for drilling the substrate and the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Ken KIKUCHI
  • Patent number: 8855531
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a cartridge supporting member carrying a first cartridge and a second cartridge. The cartridge supporting member includes a first guide portion for guiding mounting and demounting of the first cartridge relative to a first mounting portion, and a second guide portion for guiding mounting and demounting of the second cartridge relative to a second mounting portion. When the second cartridge is dismounted from the second mounting portion, the second cartridge moves in a downstream direction with respect to a drawing direction, and wherein a distance of movement, in the downstream direction, of the second cartridge along the second guide portion from the second mounting portion until the second cartridge is dismounted is greater than a distance of movement, in the downstream direction, of the first cartridge along the first guide portion from the first mounting portion until the first cartridge is dismounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensuke Suzuki, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko, Ken Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20140292745
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix pattern, each of which including a light-emitting unit and a drive circuit that drives the unit and includes a comparator circuit that compares a control pulse with potential based on signal voltage and outputs predetermined voltage based on the result, a transistor driving the unit in response to the predetermined voltage, and a current source that supplies current to the unit during driving of the transistor, includes a current-source transistor, a capacity unit connected to a gate electrode of the current-source transistor, a differential amplifier that detects a differential between voltage based on reference constant current and reference voltage, and a transistor controlling the voltage based on reference constant current depending on current flowing through the current-source transistor, and controls gate potential of the current-source transistor on the basis of output of the amplifier in synchronization with a scanning signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Kikuchi, Takaaki Sugiyama, Takehiro Misonou, Genichiro Oga, Takahiro Kita
  • Patent number: 8843028
    Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is provided with guide portions to be used to mount a cartridge group including plural cartridges in the image forming apparatus. Some of the guide portions are used also to mount an alternative cartridge, which is configured to occupy two or more of plural mounting spaces, in the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensuke Suzuki, Daisuke Hiramatsu, Takashi Akutsu, Tsutomu Nishiuwatoko, Ken Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8824919
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a detachably-mounted cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member, first and second portions-to-be-regulated for regulating rotation of the cartridge when a driving force receiving portion receives a driving force, and a transfer member for transferring a developer image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member onto a toner image receiving member. A supporting member is movable between an inside position which is in a main assembly of the apparatus and an outer portion, and a contacting and spacing member is movable relative to the supporting member. In addition, a first regulating portion permits movement of the supporting member between the outer position and the inside position, and a second regulating portion regulates rotation of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20140241755
    Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus includes a cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus, the cartridge including a photosensitive drum, a drum frame supporting the drum, a force receiving portion for receiving a driving force for driving the drum from the main assembly, and a regulated portion, provided on the drum frame, for regulating rotation of the cartridge; a transfer member for transferring a developer image onto a toner image receiving member; a supporting member movable between an inside position and in which the supporting member detachably supports the cartridge and an outer position and in which the cartridge is mountable and demountable; a moving member capable of taking a first position in which the moving member urges the regulated portion to space the drum from the transfer member and a second position in which the moving member to contact the drum to the transfer member; and a regulating portion for engaging with the regulated portion to regulate rotation
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ken Kikuchi