Patents by Inventor KENJI WATAMURA

KENJI WATAMURA 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: 11809235
    Abstract: An information apparatus includes a display, a back face cover, and a support member. The display covers a face opposite to a display surface of the display. The support member fills a space between the face opposite to the display surface of the display and an inner face of the back-face cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Seita Horikoshi, Kazuo Fujii, Kenji Watamura
  • Patent number: 11775027
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a first chassis having a keyboard mounted thereon; a second chassis having a display mounted thereon; a third chassis adjacent to end portions of the first chassis and the second chassis; a first hinge connecting the first chassis with the second chassis in a relatively rotatable manner; a torque mechanism section that is disposed in the first hinge and imparts predetermined rotational torque to a rotation between the first chassis and the second chassis; a second hinge connecting the third chassis to the first chassis in a relatively rotatable manner; and a lock section that locks the third chassis placed at an attitude protruding from the end portions of the first chassis and the second chassis with respect to the second chassis at the 0-degree attitude such that the lock section restricts a rotation of the third chassis by the second hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Onda, Seita Horikoshi, Kenji Watamura
  • Patent number: 11658388
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a storage chassis, an electronic component, an antenna circuit, and a proximity sensor circuit. A pair of main faces facing each other in the thickness direction and end faces of the storage chassis define a storage space. The electronic component is disposed in the storage space. The antenna circuit is disposed in the storage space so that at least a part of the antenna circuit overlaps the electronic component when viewed in the thickness direction. The proximity sensor circuit is connected to the antenna circuit, and detects proximity of an object based on a physical quantity that changes according to proximity of the object. The antenna circuit includes a substrate, an antenna element, and an antenna ground. The proximity sensor circuit is located in an end space defined between the electronic component and the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Yamamoto, Kenji Watamura, Yuichi Onda, Masaharu Yoneda
  • Patent number: 11650631
    Abstract: A stand device includes a base block, a first stand plate, a second stand plate, a third stand plate, a first hinge device that connects the first stand plate to the base block, a second hinge device that connects the first stand plate and the second stand plate, a third hinge device that connects the second stand plate and the third stand plate, and a fourth hinge device that connects the third stand plate to the base block. The stand device is configured so that the rotation axis of the third hinge device is located on an extension of the rotation axis of the first hinge device and the rotation axis of the fourth hinge device is located on an extension of the rotation axis of the second hinge device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Watamura, Kazuo Fujii, Takayuki Morino, Madison Smith, Cuong Truong, Thomas Perelli
  • Patent number: 11615722
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a first chassis; a second chassis; a hinge device connecting the first and second chassis in a relatively rotatable manner; a display having a bending region; a first plate; and a second plate. In the first posture, the bending region of the display has a bag-shaped bending shape in cross section that protrudes from end faces of the first plate and the second plate disposed to overlap each other. The electronic apparatus further has a first inclined face protruding from the end face of the first plate to be inclined gradually downward from the surface of the first plate in the protruding direction, and a second inclined face protruding from the end face of the second plate to be inclined gradually downward from the surface of the second plate in the protruding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Morino, Kenji Watamura, Moriyuki Tsuchihashi
  • Publication number: 20230044946
    Abstract: A stand device includes a base block, a first stand plate, a second stand plate, a third stand plate, a first hinge device that connects the first stand plate to the base block, a second hinge device that connects the first stand plate and the second stand plate, a third hinge device that connects the second stand plate and the third stand plate, and a fourth hinge device that connects the third stand plate to the base block. The stand device is configured so that the rotation axis of the third hinge device is located on an extension of the rotation axis of the first hinge device and the rotation axis of the fourth hinge device is located on an extension of the rotation axis of the second hinge device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: LENOVO (UNITED STATES) INC.
    Inventors: Kenji Watamura, Kazuo Fujii, Takayuki Morino, Madison Smith, Cuong Truong, Thomas Perelli
  • Patent number: 11507136
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a chassis having lateral surfaces including a frame and a rear surface including a glass plate supported by the frame; and a display having a display surface facing a front surface of the chassis. The frame includes a frame-shaped outer wall defining the lateral surfaces of the chassis; and a glass support that protrudes from the outer wall towards in inward direction of the frame. The glass support extends along an edge of the glass plate and includes a missing part that is a divided portion. The electronic apparatus further includes a metal plate that is thinner than a portion of the glass support adjacent to the divided portion. The metal plate is fixed to the frame, supplements the divided portion, and supports the glass plate together with the glass support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Umejima, Seita Horikoshi, Kenji Watamura, Kazuo Fujii
  • Patent number: 11487329
    Abstract: A portable information device is described. The portable information device includes a first chassis, a second chassis, a display, and a flexible sheet-shaped member. The display includes a folding region located between the first and second chassis. The sheet-shaped member is attached to a first fixed point located at a position offset from a center of the folding region to a side of the first chassis, and is also attached to a second fixed point located at a position offset from the center of the folding region to a side of the second chassis. In addition, the sheet-shaped member includes a first strength changing section in which a flexural strength decreases gradually from the first fixed point towards a first inflection point, and a second strength changing section in which the flexural strength decreases gradually from the second fixed point towards a second inflection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Moriyuki Tsuchihashi, Takayuki Morino, Kenji Watamura
  • Publication number: 20220343808
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a first chassis; a second chassis; a hinge device connecting the first and second chassis in a relatively rotatable manner; a display having a bending region; a first plate; and a second plate. In the first posture, the bending region of the display has a bag-shaped bending shape in cross section that protrudes from end faces of the first plate and the second plate disposed to overlap each other. The electronic apparatus further has a first inclined face protruding from the end face of the first plate to be inclined gradually downward from the surface of the first plate in the protruding direction, and a second inclined face protruding from the end face of the second plate to be inclined gradually downward from the surface of the second plate in the protruding direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Morino, Kenji Watamura, Moriyuki Tsuchihashi
  • Publication number: 20220294097
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a storage chassis, an electronic component, an antenna circuit, and a proximity sensor circuit. A pair of main faces facing each other in the thickness direction and end faces of the storage chassis define a storage space. The electronic component is disposed in the storage space. The antenna circuit is disposed in the storage space so that at least a part of the antenna circuit overlaps the electronic component when viewed in the thickness direction. The proximity sensor circuit is connected to the antenna circuit, and detects proximity of an object based on a physical quantity that changes according to proximity of the object. The antenna circuit includes a substrate, an antenna element, and an antenna ground. The proximity sensor circuit is located in an end space defined between the electronic component and the end face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Yamamoto, Kenji Watamura, Yuichi Onda, Masaharu Yoneda
  • Publication number: 20220279102
    Abstract: A camera module includes an imaging element, a main body unit that houses the imaging element and has a downward-facing installation surface, a plurality of conduction pins, protruding from the installation surface downward, that are biased downward in an upward movable state and are disposed side by side in a crosswise direction, and at least one fixing member. In a case where a direction that is orthogonal to both a vertical direction and the crosswise direction is defined as a depth direction, the side that the imaging element faces in the depth direction is defined as the imaging side and the side that is opposite to the imaging side is defined as a non-imaging side. The main body unit has a guide section that is disposed closer to the imaging side than the plurality of conduction pins and protrudes from the installation surface downward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Onda, Seita Horikoshi, Kenji Watamura
  • Publication number: 20220269313
    Abstract: A computing device includes a chassis with a keyboard surface, a click pad mounted on the keyboard surface including a touch operation surface, and a light emitting device mounted in the chassis, the light emitting device being configured to emit light toward a transmission window provided on the keyboard surface adjacent to the click pad. The light emitting device includes a light emitter disposed under the click pad, a light guide extending along the touch operation surface under the click pad and configured to guide light from the light emitter, and a light diffusion member disposed adjacent to the click pad under the transmission window, the light diffusion member being configured to diffuse light emitted from the emission surface through the transmission window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Watamura, Moriyuki Tsuchihashi, Yuichi Onda
  • Publication number: 20220269316
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a first chassis having a keyboard mounted thereon; a second chassis having a display mounted thereon; a third chassis adjacent to end portions of the first chassis and the second chassis; a first hinge connecting the first chassis with the second chassis in a relatively rotatable manner; a torque mechanism section that is disposed in the first hinge and imparts predetermined rotational torque to a rotation between the first chassis and the second chassis; a second hinge connecting the third chassis to the first chassis in a relatively rotatable manner; and a lock section that locks the third chassis placed at an attitude protruding from the end portions of the first chassis and the second chassis with respect to the second chassis at the 0-degree attitude such that the lock section restricts a rotation of the third chassis by the second hinge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Onda, Seita Horikoshi, Kenji Watamura
  • Publication number: 20220269317
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a first chassis having a keyboard mounted thereon; a second chassis having a display mounted thereon; a first hinge that connects the first chassis with the second chassis in a rotatable manner and that has a torque mechanism section; a third chassis that is adjacent to end portions of the first chassis and the second chassis; a second hinge that connects the third chassis to the first chassis in a rotatable manner; and a traction member including: a first end portion fixed to the second chassis, and a second end portion fixed to the third chassis. The traction member causes the third chassis to be pulled by the second chassis when the first chassis and the second chassis rotate from the first angle attitude toward the 0-degree attitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Watamura, Yuichi Onda, Seita Horikoshi
  • Patent number: 11392170
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a chassis; a first display in the chassis with a first display surface facing a front surface of the chassis; and a second display in the chassis with a second display surface facing a rear surface of the chassis. The chassis includes: a first glass plate that covers the first display surface and constitutes the front surface of the chassis; a second glass plate that covers the second display surface and constitutes the rear surface of the chassis; and a frame that supports the first glass plate and the second glass plate and constitutes lateral surfaces of the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Umejima, Kazuo Fujii, Seita Horikoshi, Kenji Watamura
  • Publication number: 20220221908
    Abstract: An information apparatus includes a display, a back face cover, and a support member. The display covers a face opposite to a display surface of the display. The support member fills a space between the face opposite to the display surface of the display and an inner face of the back-face cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Seita Horikoshi, Kazuo Fujii, Kenji Watamura
  • Patent number: 11281265
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided with a substrate mounted with an electronic component, an expansion card disposed at an interval from the substrate, a flexible printed circuit electrically connecting the substrate and the expansion card, a connector which is provided in the flexible printed circuit and to which a terminal of the expansion card is connected, a cooling unit having a heat transport member thermally connected to the electronic component and a cooling fan cooling the heat transport member, a bracket fixed to the connector, and a chassis housing the substrate, the expansion card, the flexible printed circuit, the connector, the cooling unit, and the bracket, in which the cooling fan is disposed between the substrate and the expansion card and overlaps with the flexible printed circuit in the plan view and the bracket is fixed to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Watamura, Jun Kaminaga, Hirohide Komiyama
  • Publication number: 20220043478
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a chassis having lateral surfaces including a frame and a rear surface including a glass plate supported by the frame; and a display having a display surface facing a front surface of the chassis. The frame includes a frame-shaped outer wall defining the lateral surfaces of the chassis; and a glass support that protrudes from the outer wall towards in inward direction of the frame. The glass support extends along an edge of the glass plate and includes a missing part that is a divided portion. The electronic apparatus further includes a metal plate that is thinner than a portion of the glass support adjacent to the divided portion. The metal plate is fixed to the frame, supplements the divided portion, and supports the glass plate together with the glass support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Umejima, Seita Horikoshi, Kenji Watamura, Kazuo Fujii
  • Publication number: 20220043293
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a chassis; a first display in the chassis with a first display surface facing a front surface of the chassis; and a second display in the chassis with a second display surface facing a rear surface of the chassis. The chassis includes: a first glass plate that covers the first display surface and constitutes the front surface of the chassis; a second glass plate that covers the second display surface and constitutes the rear surface of the chassis; and a frame that supports the first glass plate and the second glass plate and constitutes lateral surfaces of the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Umejima, Kazuo Fujii, Seita Horikoshi, Kenji Watamura
  • Publication number: 20210263563
    Abstract: A portable information device is described. The portable information device includes a first chassis, a second chassis, a display, and a flexible sheet-shaped member. The display includes a folding region located between the first and second chassis. The sheet-shaped member is attached to a first fixed point located at a position offset from a center of the folding region to a side of the first chassis, and is also attached to a second fixed point located at a position offset from the center of the folding region to a side of the second chassis. In addition, the sheet-shaped member includes a first strength changing section in which a flexural strength decreases gradually from the first fixed point towards a first inflection point, and a second strength changing section in which the flexural strength decreases gradually from the second fixed point towards a second inflection point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Moriyuki Tsuchihashi, Takayuki Morino, Kenji Watamura