Patents by Inventor Kenji Shimoda

Kenji Shimoda 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: 11650548
    Abstract: Provided is a watch, including: an exterior case having electroconductivity; an operating member having electroconductivity, which is inserted into the exterior case through an opening formed through the exterior case, and which is configured to accept an operation performed by a user; and an electrostatic motor including: an electret substrate having an electret surface on which electret films being electrically charged are provided; a counter substrate, on which electrodes to be arranged so as to be opposed to the electret films are provided; and a rotary shaft configured to rotate the electret substrate and the counter substrate relative to each other, wherein the operating member and the exterior case are electrically continuous with each other via a conduction path formed so as to avoid overlapping with the electret surface in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Shimoda, Yasuo Kitajima, Daisuke Tokunaga, Shinnosuke Sakata, Koki Mine, Yuta Furudate, Kazutaka Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11567454
    Abstract: Provided is an electromechanical transducer to be detachably attached to an electronic device, the transducer including: first and second plates; a rotor rotating around a rotating shaft supported by the plates; a fixed substrate disposed between the plates and facing the rotor; a charged portion having sub-regions disposed on the rotor at intervals in a rotating direction thereof so as to face the fixed substrate; an opposing electrode disposed on the fixed substrate so as to face the rotor; an adjusting unit for adjusting sliding properties of the rotating shaft, the adjusting unit being provided for at least one of the plates; and a gear train coupled to the rotating shaft. The gear train transmits motive power generated by the rotor rotated by electric power of the electronic device to the electronic device or transmits motive power generated by a change in orientation of the electronic device to the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Kitajima, Kenji Shimoda, Shinnosuke Sakata, Daisuke Tokunaga
  • Publication number: 20200293000
    Abstract: Provided is a watch, including: an exterior case having electroconductivity; an operating member having electroconductivity, which is inserted into the exterior case through an opening formed through the exterior case, and which is configured to accept an operation performed by a user; and an electrostatic motor including: an electret substrate having an electret surface on which electret films being electrically charged are provided; a counter substrate, on which electrodes to be arranged so as to be opposed to the electret films are provided; and a rotary shaft configured to rotate the electret substrate and the counter substrate relative to each other, wherein the operating member and the exterior case are electrically continuous with each other via a conduction path formed so as to avoid overlapping with the electret surface in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Kenji SHIMODA, Yasuo KITAJIMA, Daisuke TOKUNAGA, Shinnosuke SAKATA, Koki MINE, Yuta FURUDATE, Kazutaka IGARASHI
  • Publication number: 20200209809
    Abstract: Provided is an electromechanical transducer to be detachably attached to an electronic device, the transducer including: first and second plates; a rotor rotating around a rotating shaft supported by the plates; a fixed substrate disposed between the plates and facing the rotor; a charged portion having sub-regions disposed on the rotor at intervals in a rotating direction thereof so as to face the fixed substrate; an opposing electrode disposed on the fixed substrate so as to face the rotor; an adjusting unit for adjusting sliding properties of the rotating shaft, the adjusting unit being provided for at least one of the plates; and a gear train coupled to the rotating shaft. The gear train transmits motive power generated by the rotor rotated by electric power of the electronic device to the electronic device or transmits motive power generated by a change in orientation of the electronic device to the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Yasuo Kitajima, Kenji Shimoda, Shinnosuke Sakata, Daisuke Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 10563933
    Abstract: A heat radiation member includes a metal base material made of a first metal material; and a plurality of heat radiation sections that are separately attached so as to disperse on a surface of the metal base material and contains a second metal material that is different from the first metal material and an oxide of the second metal material exposed on a surface of each of the respective heat radiation sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuaki Nishio, Kenji Shimoda
  • Patent number: 9840982
    Abstract: A spray coating film has a first spray coating film formed on a surface of an aluminum substrate and a second spray coating film formed on a surface of the first spray coating film. In the first spray coating film, an inorganic material with a layered crystalline structure is dispersed in a Ni-based alloy material, and an area ratio of the inorganic material is in a range from 40% to 80% relative to the sectional area of the first spray coating film. The second spray coating film is a porous film composed of ZrO2—SiO2 based ceramic containing 30% to 50% by mass of SiO2, and the second spray coating film has an area ratio of pores of 30% to 80% relative to the sectional area of the second spray coating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Shimoda, Toshiaki Hamaguri, Kazuaki Nishio, Hiromichi Nakata
  • Publication number: 20160146148
    Abstract: A spray coating film has a first spray coating film formed on a surface of an aluminum substrate and a second spray coating film formed on a surface of the first spray coating film. In the first spray coating film, an inorganic material with a layered crystalline structure is dispersed in a Ni-based alloy material, and an area ratio of the inorganic material is in a range from 40% to 80% relative to the sectional area of the first spray coating film. The second spray coating film is a porous film composed of ZrO2-SiO2 based ceramic containing 30% to 50% by mass of SiO2, and the second spray coating film has an area ratio of pores of 30% to 80% relative to the sectional area of the second spray coating film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji SHIMODA, Toshiaki HAMAGURI, Kazuaki NISHIO, Hiromichi NAKATA
  • Patent number: 9295944
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalyst device includes a catalyst support including a ceramics, on which a catalyst is supported, a pair of surface electrodes disposed on an outer surface of the catalyst support, the surface electrodes being disposed opposite to each other and extending in an axial direction of the catalyst support, and a wiring line that externally supplies electric power to the surface electrodes, in which the catalyst support is electrically heated through the surface electrodes. A wrought member made of metal is buried in the surface electrodes, the wrought member extending in the axial direction of the catalyst support. With the configuration like this, the spreading of electric currents in the catalyst-support axis direction can be maintained even when cracks occur in the catalyst-support circumference direction in the surface electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadashi Takagaki, Yasuo Kinoshita, Kenji Shimoda, Kazuaki Nishio
  • Publication number: 20150315699
    Abstract: A heat radiation member includes a metal base material made of a first metal material; and a plurality of heat radiation sections that are separately attached so as to disperse on a surface of the metal base material and contains a second metal material that is different from the first metal material and an oxide of the second metal material exposed on a surface of each of the respective heat radiation sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuaki NISHIO, Kenji SHIMODA
  • Publication number: 20150247436
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalyst apparatus includes a carrier, a pair of surface electrodes, a wiring and a plurality of fixed layers. The carrier is formed of ceramics on which a catalyst is carried. The pair of surface electrodes face each other and are extended in an axial direction of the carrier on an outer peripheral surface of the carrier. The wiring is formed into a pectinate shape and is configured to supply electric power from an outside of the electrically heated catalyst apparatus to the surface electrode. The plurality of fixed layers is configured to fix the wiring on the surface electrode. The electrically heated catalyst apparatus is formed so that the carrier is electrically heated through the surface electrode. Elongation of the wiring is 15% or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Nakayama, Yasuo Kinoshita, Kenji Shimoda, Kazuaki Nishio
  • Patent number: 9121548
    Abstract: A sliding member includes: a substrate which has a sliding surface sliding under the presence of lubricating oil; and a film which is fixed to at least a part of the sliding surface. The film contains carbon (C), titanium (Ti), and boron (B), is obtained by repeatedly and alternately layering a first layer containing amorphous carbon as a principal component and a second layer containing C and Ti as principal components, and has hardness of 18 GPa or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mori, Munehisa Matsui, Keiji Hayashi, Yoshio Fuwa, Takatoshi Shinyoshi, Satoshi Jinno, Kenji Shimoda, Satoshi Hirota, Koichiro Akari, Hirotaka Ito
  • Patent number: 9124212
    Abstract: A load characteristic estimating apparatus for a driving machine includes an action-command generating unit for generating an action command for a position and speed of a driving machine, a driving-force-command generating unit for generating a driving force command to cause an action of the driving machine to follow the action command, a driving unit for generating driving force corresponding to the driving force command and drive the driving machine, a sign determining unit for determining, based on driving speed of the driving machine, the state of the driving machine, a load-driving-force estimating unit for calculating, based on the driving force command, a load driving force signal, and a normal reverse-rotation-average calculating unit and a reverse-rotation-average calculating unit, configured to calculate a sequential average of the load driving force signal, respectively when the determination result is a normal and reverse rotation action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Shimoda, Hidetoshi Ikeda, Hiroyuki Sekiguchi, Takashi Isoda
  • Publication number: 20140301908
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalyst device includes a catalyst support including a ceramics, on which a catalyst is supported, a pair of surface electrodes disposed on an outer surface of the catalyst support, the surface electrodes being disposed opposite to each other and extending in an axial direction of the catalyst support, and a wiring line that externally supplies electric power to the surface electrodes, in which the catalyst support is electrically heated through the surface electrodes. A wrought member made of metal is buried in the surface electrodes, the wrought member extending in the axial direction of the catalyst support. With the configuration like this, the spreading of electric currents in the catalyst-support axis direction can be maintained even when cracks occur in the catalyst-support circumference direction in the surface electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadashi Takagaki, Yasuo Kinoshita, Kenji Shimoda, Kazuaki Nishio
  • Patent number: 8815167
    Abstract: An electrode according to one aspect of the present invention is formed on a base material composed of a ceramics. The electrodes includes a matrix composed of an Ni—Cr alloy (with a Cr content of 20 to 60 wt. %) or an MCrAlY alloy (M is at least one material selected from Fe, Co and Ni), and a disperse phase that is dispersed in the matrix and composed of an oxide mineral having a laminated structure. The ratio of area occupied by the disperse phase in a cross section of the electrode is 40 to 80%. With the structure like this, it is possible to suppress the increase in the electrical resistance even after a thermal cycle is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Shimoda, Kazuaki Nishio, Yasuo Kinoshita, Tadashi Takagaki
  • Publication number: 20140197770
    Abstract: A load characteristic estimating apparatus for a driving machine includes an action-command generating unit for generating an action command for a position and speed of a driving machine, a driving-force-command generating unit for generating a driving force command to cause an action of the driving machine to follow the action command, a driving unit for generating driving force corresponding to the driving force command and drive the driving machine, a sign determining unit for determining, based on driving speed of the driving machine, the state of the driving machine, a load-driving-force estimating unit for calculating, based on the driving force command, a load driving force signal, and a normal reverse-rotation-average calculating unit and a reverse-rotation-average calculating unit, configured to calculate a sequential average of the load driving force signal, respectively when the determination result is a normal and reverse rotation action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Shimoda, Hidetoshi Ikeda, Hiroyuki Sekiguchi, Takashi Isoda
  • Publication number: 20140038868
    Abstract: A sliding member includes: a substrate which has a sliding surface sliding under the presence of lubricating oil; and a film which is fixed to at least a part of the sliding surface. The film contains carbon (C), titanium (Ti), and boron (B), is obtained by repeatedly and alternately layering a first layer containing amorphous carbon as a principal component and a second layer containing C and Ti as principal components, and has hardness of 18 GPa or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.)
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mori, Munehisa Matsui, Keiji Hayashi, Yoshio Fuwa, Takatoshi Shinyoshi, Satoshi Jinno, Kenji Shimoda, Satoshi Hirota, Koichiro Akari, Hirotaka Ito
  • Publication number: 20130062328
    Abstract: An electrode according to one aspect of the present invention is formed on a base material composed of a ceramics. The electrodes includes a matrix composed of an Ni-Cr alloy (with a Cr content of 20 to 60 wt. %) or an MCrAlY alloy (M is at least one material selected from Fe, Co and Ni), and a disperse phase that is dispersed in the matrix and composed of an oxide mineral having a laminated structure. The ratio of area occupied by the disperse phase in a cross section of the electrode is 40 to 80%. With the structure like this, it is possible to suppress the increase in the electrical resistance even after a thermal cycle is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Shimoda, Kazuaki Nishio, Yasuo Kinoshita, Tadashi Takagaki
  • Patent number: 8329110
    Abstract: An electrically-heated catalyst is disclosed. The catalyst may include a carrier; more than two comb-shaped electrode portions extending in a longitudinal direction; an electrically conductive underlying layer provided between the carrier and the comb-shaped electrode portions; and more than two electrically conductive fixing layers bonding to at least one of the comb-shaped electrode portions and to the underlying layer to fix the comb-shaped electrode portions to the carrier at more than two points spaced apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Kinoshita, Tatsuo Iida, Tadashi Takagaki, Hideji Naito, Gozo Kaji, Kenji Shimoda
  • Publication number: 20120121476
    Abstract: An electrically-heated catalyst is disclosed. The catalyst may include a carrier; more than two comb-shaped electrode portions extending in a longitudinal direction; an electrically conductive underlying layer provided between the carrier and the comb-shaped electrode portions; and more than two electrically conductive fixing layers bonding to at least one of the comb-shaped electrode portions and to the underlying layer to fix the comb-shaped electrode portions to the carrier at more than two points spaced apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuo KINOSHITA, Tatsuo IIDA, Tadashi TAKAGAKI, Hideji NAITO, Gozo KAJI, Kenji SHIMODA
  • Patent number: 7746731
    Abstract: An electronic device such as a watch comprises a solar cell (14) and window portions (2, 6) which is located on the solar cell (14) and through which light is applied to the solar cell (14). The solar cell (14) is divided into a plurality of divided cells such that irradiated portions (14A to 14F) of the divided cells are equal in area, in consideration of the shapes, areas, and number of the window portions (2, 6) and the number of divisions of the solar cell (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiki Murakami, Takeo Mutoh, Takayuki Hasumi, Kenji Shimoda