Patents by Inventor Kenji Amimoto
Kenji Amimoto 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).
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Patent number: 11230871Abstract: An opening/closing body control device may include an actuator, a drive device configured to drive the actuator configured to at least one of open and close an opening/closing body of a vehicle, an operation switch, and a signal output device. The signal output device may be configured to drive the actuator via outputting a signal to the drive device when the operation switch is operated. The signal output device may include a signal line, a submergence detection circuit configured to detect submergence of the vehicle in water, a switch, and a pullup resistance connected via the switch to a power source. The switch may be configured to turn on when submergence of the vehicle in water is detected and the operation switch is not operated. The pullup resistance may be connected electrically to the signal line when the switch turns on to output a signal to the drive device.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Inventors: Toaki Yagihara, Kenji Amimoto
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Publication number: 20200199927Abstract: An opening/closing body control device may include an actuator, a drive device configured to drive the actuator configured to at least one of open and close an opening/closing body of a vehicle, an operation switch, and a signal output device. The signal output device may be configured to drive the actuator via outputting a signal to the drive device when the operation switch is operated. The signal output device may include a signal line, a submergence detection circuit configured to detect submergence of the vehicle in water, a switch, and a pullup resistance connected via the switch to a power source. The switch may be configured to turn on when submergence of the vehicle in water is detected and the operation switch is not operated. The pullup resistance may be connected electrically to the signal line when the switch turns on to output a signal to the drive device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2019Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Toaki Yagihara, Kenji Amimoto
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Patent number: 10128065Abstract: A rotation transmitting mechanism may include first and second tubular holders connected to first and second tubular members, respectively, to be incapable of rotating relative thereto, and a third tubular holder provided to project from an inside of the second tubular holder to the first tubular holder side and connected to the second tubular holder to be incapable of rotating relative thereto. The rotation transmitting mechanism may also include an inner coil spring, the ends of which are inserted inside of and respectively fixed to the first and third tubular holders, and an outer coil spring, the ends of which are inserted outside of and respectively fixed to the first and third tubular holders. The coils may have the same winding direction. In certain states, the second and third tubular holders may be connected to be incapable of rotating relative to each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: Valeo Japan Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenji Amimoto, Takeshi Okuhara
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Patent number: 9705496Abstract: A switch device may include a non-conductive operating portion provided with a plurality of operating areas inside an outer edge part of the operating portion, an electrode sheet spaced from the operating portion and having a plurality of electrodes each including at least one detection electrode and being arranged to face a respective operating area, and a detecting unit that may detect operations of the plurality of operating areas. An inner part of the operating portion positioned inward of the outer edge part may be displaceable in a facing direction of the operating areas and the electrodes. The detecting unit may be configured to determine an operated operating area, which may be operable by touch or push operation, based upon a position of at least one of the detection electrodes, a change in capacitance of the detection electrode, and a changing amount in capacitance of the detection electrode.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2015Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Valeo Japan Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiromasa Kataoka, Kenji Amimoto, Shuei Tamura
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Publication number: 20160336129Abstract: A rotation transmitting mechanism may include first and second tubular holders connected to first and second tubular members, respectively, to be incapable of rotating relative thereto, and a third tubular holder provided to project from an inside of the second tubular holder to the first tubular holder side and connected to the second tubular holder to be incapable of rotating relative thereto. The rotation transmitting mechanism may also include an inner coil spring, the ends of which are inserted inside of and respectively fixed to the first and third tubular holders, and an outer coil spring, the ends of which are inserted outside of and respectively fixed to the first and third tubular holders. The coils may have the same winding direction. In certain states, the second and third tubular holders may be connected to be incapable of rotating relative to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: Kenji Amimoto, Takeshi Okuhara
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Publication number: 20160191056Abstract: A switch device may include a non-conductive operating portion provided with a plurality of operating areas inside an outer edge part of the operating portion, an electrode sheet spaced from the operating portion and having a plurality of electrodes each including at least one detection electrode and being arranged to face a respective operating area, and a detecting unit that may detect operations of the plurality of operating areas. An inner part of the operating portion positioned inward of the outer edge part may be displaceable in a facing direction of the operating areas and the electrodes. The detecting unit may be configured to determine an operated operating area, which may be operable by touch or push operation, based upon a position of at least one of the detection electrodes, a change in capacitance of the detection electrode, and a changing amount in capacitance of the detection electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2015Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Hiromasa Kataoka, Kenji Amimoto, Shuei Tamura
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Patent number: 8080749Abstract: A switch comprises a switch housing including a cover, a terminal block welded to the cover and a fixed contact point therein, a moving block provided with a boss for fitting a manual shaft of an automatic transmission and a movable contact point corresponding to the fixed contact point and movable to the switch housing and elastic seal rings interposed between inner and outer peripheral surfaces of each of the terminal block and the cover, and the operation portion. One of the cover or the terminal block is formed of a colored, laser transmissive material and the other is formed of a laser non-transmissive material. The terminal block and the cover are automatically aligned with the moving block by an elastic force of the seal ring and a thermal welding part is circularly formed by means of a laser beam on the side of the outer periphery in each of the terminal block and the cover to be aligned for coupling the terminal block with the cover to fix the alignment.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2009Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignees: Niles America Wintech, Inc., Niles Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hisashi Matsuhashi, Atsuko Hildebrand, Anthony C. Bormes, Kenji Amimoto
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Publication number: 20100224468Abstract: A switch comprises a switch housing including a cover, a terminal block welded to the cover and a fixed contact point therein, a moving block provided with a boss for fitting a manual shaft of an automatic transmission and a movable contact point corresponding to the fixed contact point and movable to the switch housing and elastic seal rings interposed between inner and outer peripheral surfaces of each of the terminal block and the cover, and the operation portion. One of the cover or the terminal block is formed of a colored, laser transmissive material and the other is formed of a laser non-transmissive material. The terminal block and the cover are automatically aligned with the moving block by an elastic force of the seal ring and a thermal welding part is circularly formed by means of a laser beam on the side of the outer periphery in each of the terminal block and the cover to be aligned for coupling the terminal block with the cover to fix the alignment.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2009Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicants: NILES AMERICAN WINTECH, INC., NILES CO., LTD.Inventors: Hisashi Matsuhashi, Atsuko Hildebrand, Anthony C. Bormes, Kenji Amimoto
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Patent number: 7767920Abstract: A switch comprises a switch housing including a cover and a terminal block coupled with the cover. The cover is formed of a colored, laser transmissive material and the terminal block is formed of a laser non-transmissive material. A thin part is circularly formed in the cover formed of the colored laser transmissive material on the periphery side of the switch housing and is thinner than another part of the cover and a thermal welding part is circularly formed along the thin part by means of a laser beam for coupling the terminal block with the cover.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2009Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignees: Niles America Wintech, Inc., Niles Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hisashi Matsuhashi, Atsuko Hildebrand, Anthony C. Bormes, Kenji Amimoto