Patents by Inventor Kenji Sugihara

Kenji Sugihara 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: 9227520
    Abstract: The purpose is to provide an electric vehicle charging device capable of preventing arc discharge when disconnecting a power supply connector and a vehicle-side connector. An electric vehicle charging device provided with: a power supply connector (3) for supplying electrical energy from outside the vehicle; a vehicle-side connector (2) for connecting to the power supply connector (3) and positioned in the vehicle; a spring (34) for generating repulsive force in the direction in which the power supply connector (3) and the vehicle-side connector (2) separate; and an engaging part (32) for detecting the disconnection of the power supply connector (3) and the vehicle-side connector (2); wherein the spring (34) generates repulsive force in the direction in which the power supply connector (3) and the vehicle-side connector (2) separate when the engaging part (32) detects that the power supply connector (3) and the vehicle-side connector (2) have disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiko Kimura, Kenji Sugihara, Tomohiro Terada
  • Patent number: 9193271
    Abstract: Provided is an in-vehicle charger capable of reliably obtaining charging control parameters prior to charging and capable of safe charging. In this charger, a charging unit (105) charges a battery (111) in accordance with the charging control parameters. A storage unit (103) stores a table in which a plurality of areas on a map and the charging control parameters are made to correspond to each other. A position information receiving unit (101) obtains position indicating the current position of a vehicle (250). A control unit (104) refers to the table on the basis of the position information and sets the charging control parameters made to correspond to an area including the current position when a charging cable (107) is not connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Ishida, Kenji Sugihara, Norihiko Kimura, Tomohiro Terada
  • Publication number: 20150169766
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a display control unit which displays information in a first display state of the information processing apparatus itself and displays a search result obtained by using at least a part of the information as a search key in a second display state of another information processing apparatus of a different type from the information processing apparatus itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: KENJI SUGIHARA, YASUTAKA FUJII, KENTARO MARUYAMA, KEISUKE TANAKA, FUMITAKA OZAKI
  • Patent number: 9020661
    Abstract: According to a vehicle controller, when a communication control unlit (13) of a vehicle controller (1) acquires a variable control parameter from a server (5) via the Internet (4), the variable control parameter is stored in a write-enabled storage unit (11), and the user can change to a desired vehicle driving state on the basis of the variable control parameter. A fixed control parameter set as a default value and adapted for initializing the vehicle driving state is stored in a non-write-enabled storage unit (12). If an emergency stop button (16) is pushed or a vehicle-information-acquiring unit (17) acquires driving error detection information when the vehicle is driving on the basis of the variable control parameter, the vehicle immediately switches to a safe driving state according to the fixed control parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Sugihara
  • Publication number: 20150083445
    Abstract: The present invention reliably extinguishes fires in devices that have exceeded the guaranteed temperature without the use of a sensor. An in-vehicle fire extinguisher (100) extinguishes fires using an air conditioner for heating or cooling the interior of a vehicle compartment. A coolant discharged from a compressor (101) is pumped into the compressor (101) through a circulation path (106) via a condenser (102), an expansion valve (103) and an evaporator (105). A fire extinguishing unit (104) is provided to the circulation path (106) between the expansion valve (103) and the compressor (101). When a device mounted in a vehicle exceeds the guaranteed temperature, the fire extinguishing unit (104) melts so that coolant pumped from the circulation path (106) is discharged to the exterior and extinguishes the device fire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Satoru Itani, Kenji Sugihara
  • Patent number: 8873869
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, an object region is extracted from image data that has been input, and an important region where degradation in image quality is to be reduced is selected with use of a feature quantity of image data of the object region or a peripheral region in a periphery of the object region. Among portions of the input image data, an image data portion outside of the important region is compressed and encoded with use of a first quantization step value, and an image data portion of the important region is compressed and encoded with use of a second quantization step value that is smaller than the first quantization step value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Sugihara
  • Publication number: 20140292690
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing system including a brush apparatus that fulfills a role of a brush, and an information processing apparatus that causes drawing according to an operation on an operating surface by the brush apparatus to be conducted on a display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Sugihara
  • Publication number: 20140265655
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device that has a stator and a rotor disposed on the inside of the vehicle wheel and drives the wheel, wherein the whole stator can be intensively cooled without causing an increase in production costs. The vehicle drive device comprises: the stator that has a stator core (20) and a hollow stator coil (30), is arranged on the inside of the rotating vehicle wheel (10), and electrically generates magnetic force; the rotor that has permanent magnets (11) connected to the wheel (10), and applies rotational force to the wheel (10) using the magnetic force of the stator; a cooling medium that flows through the hollow section of the stator coil (20); and a first radiator unit (50) that releases heat from the cooling medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kenji Sugihara, Satoru Itani
  • Patent number: 8825290
    Abstract: A risk-degree setting unit (108) sets the degree of risk for the case where an inverter (103) performs conversion processing (inverter risk degree), and sets the degree of risk for the case where a storage battery (105) stores electrical energy (storage battery risk degree). A final output destination determination unit (109), based on the degrees of risk set by the risk-degree setting unit (108), determines the final output destination of electrical energy output from an electric motor (106), and controls the turning ON or OFF of a relay (110). The final output destination determination unit (109) turns the relay (110) ON when the storage battery (105) is determined as the final output destination of the electrical energy output from the electric motor (106), and turns the relay (110) OFF when the inverter (103) is determined as the final output destination of the electrical energy output from the electric motor (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Terada, Kenji Sugihara, Norihiko Kimura
  • Publication number: 20140182884
    Abstract: A cable wherein it is possible to prevent a pair of conductors from coming into contact with one another by disposing an inner insulator between the pair of conductors, and to prevent damages to a power source circuit and such caused by the flow of overcurrent. A cable (100) is used when supplying power to a storage battery on a moving body. A first conductor (101) is connected to a positive electrode. A second conductor (102) is connected to a negative electrode. A third insulator (106) is disposed between the first conductor (101) and the second conductor (102), thereby preventing the first conductor (101) and the second conductor (102) from coming into contact with one another. A fourth insulator (107) covers the first conductor (101), the second conductor (102), and the third insulator (106).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Yonezawa, Kenji Sugihara, Jun Kuwata
  • Publication number: 20140015484
    Abstract: Provided is an in-vehicle charger capable of reliably obtaining charging control parameters prior to charging and capable of safe charging. In this charger, a charging unit (105) charges a battery (111) in accordance with the charging control parameters. A storage unit (103) stores a table in which a plurality of areas on a map and the charging control parameters are made to correspond to each other. A position information receiving unit (101) obtains position indicating the current position of a vehicle (250). A control unit (104) refers to the table on the basis of the position information and sets the charging control parameters made to correspond to an area including the current position when a charging cable (107) is not connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ishida, Kenji Sugihara
  • Publication number: 20140012435
    Abstract: According to a vehicle controller, when a communication control unlit (13) of a vehicle controller (1) acquires a variable control parameter from a server (5) via the Internet (4), the variable control parameter is stored in a write-enabled storage unit (11), and the user can change to a desired vehicle driving state on the basis of the variable control parameter. A fixed control parameter set as a default value and adapted for initializing the vehicle driving state is stored in a non-write-enabled storage unit (12). If an emergency stop button (16) is pushed or a vehicle-information-acquiring unit (17) acquires driving error detection information when the vehicle is driving on the basis of the variable control parameter, the vehicle immediately switches to a safe driving state according to the fixed control parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Sugihara
  • Publication number: 20130325262
    Abstract: A risk-degree setting unit (108) sets the degree of risk for the case where an inverter (103) performs conversion processing (inverter risk degree), and sets the degree of risk for the case where a storage battery (105) stores electrical energy (storage battery risk degree). A final output destination determination unit (109), based on the degrees of risk set by the risk-degree setting unit (108), determines the final output destination of electrical energy output from an electric motor (106), and controls the turning ON or OFF of a relay (110). The final output destination determination unit (109) turns the relay (110) ON when the storage battery (105) is determined as the final output destination of the electrical energy output from the electric motor (106), and turns the relay (110) OFF when the inverter (103) is determined as the final output destination of the electrical energy output from the electric motor (106).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Terada, Kenji Sugihara, Norihiko Kimura
  • Publication number: 20130193923
    Abstract: The purpose is to provide an electric vehicle charging device capable of preventing arc discharge when disconnecting a power supply connector and a vehicle-side connector. An electric vehicle charging device provided with: a power supply connector (3) for supplying electrical energy from outside the vehicle; a vehicle-side connector (2) for connecting to the power supply connector (3) and positioned in the vehicle; a spring (34) for generating repulsive force in the direction in which the power supply connector (3) and the vehicle-side connector (2) separate; and an engaging part (32) for detecting the disconnection of the power supply connector (3) and the vehicle-side connector (2); wherein the spring (34) generates repulsive force in the direction in which the power supply connector (3) and the vehicle-side connector (2) separate when the engaging part (32) detects that the power supply connector (3) and the vehicle-side connector (2) have disconnected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiko Kimura, Kenji Sugihara, Tomohiro Terada
  • Publication number: 20110091107
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, an object region is extracted from image data that has been input, and an important region where degradation in image quality is to be reduced is selected with use of a feature quantity of image data of the object region or a peripheral region in a periphery of the object region. Among portions of the input image data, an image data portion outside of the important region is compressed and encoded with use of a first quantization step value, and an image data portion of the important region is compressed and encoded with use of a second quantization step value that is smaller than the first quantization step value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Sugihara
  • Patent number: 6796657
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus including an illumination optical system for emitting a light flux, a decomposition optical system for decomposing the light flux into color lights of red, green and blue, liquid crystal light valves for the colors for receiving the decomposed color lights, a synthesis optical system for synthesizing the image lights of the colors from the liquid crystal light valves, and a projection optical system for projecting the synthesized image lights to a screen. A filter is disposed at one of positions opposing to each other across the center of the light flux between the white light source and the decomposition optical system and attenuates or cuts off light of a wavelength region different from that of light which passes the other of the positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Shinoda, Kenji Sugihara
  • Publication number: 20030151724
    Abstract: A projection type display apparatus which can maintain a high contrast for a long period of time and can be produced simply and at a low cost. The display apparatus includes an illumination optical system for emitting a light flux, a decomposition optical system for decomposing the light flux into color lights of red, green and blue, liquid crystal light valves for the colors for receiving the decomposed color lights, a synthesis optical system for synthesizing the image lights of the colors from the liquid crystal light valves, and a projection optical system for projecting the synthesized image lights to a screen. The first optical path from the illumination optical system to one of the liquid crystal light valves for a predetermined one color through the decomposition optical system is formed longer than second optical paths to the liquid crystal light valves for the other two colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Makoto Shinoda, Kenji Sugihara
  • Patent number: 6559900
    Abstract: In a projection type display apparatus that projects an image by inputting a light beam emitted from a light source to a spatial light modulation device, it is intended to provide a lens array as a component of an illumination optical system that is low in manufacturing cost, provides high screen illuminance, and enables miniaturization of the projection type display apparatus. The dimension of the cell lenses of a second lens array is not uniform in one of the row direction and the column direction. Since the cell lenses are rectangular when viewed from the front side, the second lens array can be manufactured with a metal mold having a simple shape. The boundary lines between the cell lenses are straight and level differences at the boundary lines are small, sink marks of the second lens array are small, and the efficiency of utilization of light beams is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuru Kanamori, Makoto Shinoda, Tohru Kawai, Kenji Sugihara
  • Patent number: 6365526
    Abstract: An optical illumination system wherein an increased amount of light from a light source can reach a light valve, in which a luminous flux of the light source is irradiated upon a first lens array. The luminous flux having passed through the first lens array is introduced to the polarization conversion system provided immediately before a second lens array, and a luminous flux coming out from the polarization conversion system is introduced to the second lens array and then irradiated upon the light valve. The first lens array has an image forming position f which satisfies S<f<L where L is an optical path length of a longer one of optical paths of P polarized light and S polarized light decomposed from the luminous flux from the light source by the polarization conversion system and S is an optical path length of a shorter one of the optical paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuru Kanamori, Kenji Sugihara, Koji Kita, Makoto Shinoda