Patents by Inventor Kensuke Murata

Kensuke Murata 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: 20130160202
    Abstract: Provided is an automatic faucet using a radio wave sensor, which is capable of preventing erroneous stop of water spouting, with a simple configuration. The automatic faucet (1) has a radio wave propagation space, a radio wave emitting port (27), and directivity setting device. The directivity setting device is configured to direct a radio wave being emitted from the radio wave emitting port (27), in such a manner that, during a water stopping state, the emitted radio wave lies along a spouting direction (A) along which washing water is to be spouted from a spout port (26), and, during a water spouting state, a part of the radio wave emitted disposed offset in a direction C, with respect to the spout port (26) interferes with a region of a peripheral surface of a stream (W) facing in the direction C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Murata, Hiroshi Tsuboi, Shoichi Tsuiki, Yuya Masahira
  • Patent number: 8250680
    Abstract: A urinal includes: a urinal body; a high-frequency sensor which radiates a radio beam obliquely passing through an upper surface of the urinal body toward a bowl and receives a reflected wave from an object so as to generate a detection signal; and a valve which discharges or stops flushing water to the urinal body in response to the detection signal. An angle formed between a first plane including the upper surface of the urinal body and a second plane including a radiation surface of an antenna of the high-frequency sensor is in a range of more than 0 degree to less than 90 degree. A cross line where the first plane and the second plane intersect with each other is substantially parallel to a horizontal direction of the urinal body. The radio beam is a linearly-polarized wave. An excitation direction of the radio beam intersects with the cross line. An intensity of the radio beam passing through the urinal body is larger than that of the radio beam reflected by the upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Murata, Masayuki Nagaishi, Tomoyuki Abe, Hiroshi Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 8171578
    Abstract: There is provided a water discharge system. A water discharge system includes a water discharge portion; a sensor unit which acquires movement information about an object based on a radiated electric wave, and outputs a detecting signal; and a control unit which controls water discharge of the water discharge portion based on the detecting signal. When it is detected that the object is decelerated to a first threshold velocity or less, the control unit controls the water discharge portion to start the water discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Tsujita, Tomoyuki Abe, Naoki Kabe, Hiroshi Tsuboi, Masayuki Nagaishi, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya, Shoichi Tsuiki, Kensuke Murata
  • Patent number: 7952534
    Abstract: A plurality of antenna electrodes 11, 12, 13, 14 on a substrate 1 can be connected to a ground electrode on the substrate 1 via connectors at spots 11A-11C, 12A-12C, 13A-13C, and 14A-14C. Each connector can be opened/closed by a switch; or provided with a impedance varying device. Any one of the antenna electrodes may be connected to the ground electrode by the switch or the impedance varying device. The radio wave beam outputted from this antenna electrode shifts in phase from the radio wave beams outputted from the other antenna electrodes, whereby the direction of the integrated radio wave beam is inclined. Connecting one or another of the spots 11A-11C, 12A-12C, 13A-13C, and 14A-14C to the ground electrode changes the direction and the magnitude of the integrated radio wave beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Iwata, Hiroshi Tsuboi, Kensuke Murata, Toshio Koguro, Youichi Murase
  • Publication number: 20110000559
    Abstract: A water discharge system capable of preventing a mistaken detection to surely perform the stop of water discharge or continue the start of water discharge is provided. The water discharge system includes: a water discharge unit; a sensor unit configured to obtain information about an object to be detected through a reflected wave of a radiated radio wave; a control unit configured to control the start of water discharge from the water discharge unit based on a detective signal from the sensor unit; and a storage mechanics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Murata, Masayuki Nagaishi, Katsuhisa Tsuchiya, Shoichi Tsuiki, Masami Tsujita, Hiroshi Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 7773035
    Abstract: A microstrip antenna has feed element 102 and parasitic elements 104, 106 on the front surface of substrate 1. Microwave electrical power is applied to feed element 102. Parasitic elements 104, 106 are connected via through hole type leads passing through substrate 1, to switches upon the rear surface of substrate 1, respectively. By actuating the switches individually, parasitic elements 104, 106 are individually switched between a grounded state and a float state. The direction of the radio beam emitted from the microstrip antenna is varied by selecting which of parasitic elements 104, 106 is grounded and floated. A microwave signal source connects to feed element 102 via an feed line 108 very much shorter than the wavelength, accordingly the transmission losses being low and the efficiency being excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Murata, Hiroshi Tsuboi, Kengo Iwata, Tomoyuki Abe
  • Publication number: 20090070922
    Abstract: A urinal includes: a urinal body; a high-frequency sensor which radiates a radio beam obliquely passing through an upper surface of the urinal body toward a bowl and receives a reflected wave from an object so as to generate a detection signal; and a valve which discharges or stops flushing water to the urinal body in response to the detection signal. An angle formed between a first plane including the upper surface of the urinal body and a second plane including a radiation surface of an antenna of the high-frequency sensor is in a range of more than 0 degree to less than 90 degree. A cross line where the first plane and the second plane intersect with each other is substantially parallel to a horizontal direction of the urinal body. The radio beam is a linearly-polarized wave. An excitation direction of the radio beam intersects with the cross line. An intensity of the radio beam passing through the urinal body is larger than that of the radio beam reflected by the upper surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke MURATA, Masayuki NAGAISHI, Tomoyuki ABE, Hiroshi TSUBOI
  • Publication number: 20090031493
    Abstract: There is provided a water discharge system. A water discharge system includes a water discharge portion; a sensor unit which acquires movement information about an object based on a radiated electric wave, and outputs a detecting signal; and a control unit which controls water discharge of the water discharge portion based on the detecting signal. When it is detected that the object is decelerated to a first threshold velocity or less, the control unit controls the water discharge portion to start the water discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Masami TSUJITA, Tomoyuki ABE, Naoki KABE, Hiroshi TSUBOI, Masayuki NAGAISHI, Katsuhisa TSUCHIYA, Shoichi TSUIKI, Kensuke MURATA
  • Publication number: 20080088510
    Abstract: A microstrip antenna has feed element 102 and parasitic elements 104, 106 on the front surface of substrate 1. Microwave electrical power is applied to feed element 102. Parasitic elements 104, 106 are connected via through hole type leads passing through substrate 1, to switches upon the rear surface of substrate 1, respectively. By actuating the switches individually, parasitic elements 104, 106 are individually switched between a grounded state and a float state. The direction of the radio beam emitted from the microstrip antenna is varied by selecting which of parasitic elements 104, 106 is grounded and floated. A microwave signal source connects to feed element 102 via an feed line 108 very much shorter than the wavelength, accordingly the transmission losses being low and the efficiency being excellent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Murata, Hiroshi Tsuboi, Kengo Iwata, Tomoyuki Abe
  • Publication number: 20080036662
    Abstract: A plurality of antenna electrodes 11, 12, 13, 14 on a substrate 1 can be connected to a ground electrode on the substrate 1 via connectors at spots 11A-11C, 12A-12C, 13A-13C, and 14A-14C. Each connector can be opened/closed by a switch; or provided with a impedance varying device. Any one of the antenna electrodes may be connected to the ground electrode by the switch or the impedance varying device. The radio wave beam outputted from this antenna electrode shifts in phase from the radio wave beams outputted from the other antenna electrodes, whereby the direction of the integrated radio wave beam is inclined. Connecting one or another of the spots 11A-11C, 12A-12C, 13A-13C, and 14A-14C to the ground electrode changes the direction and the magnitude of the integrated radio wave beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Kengo Iwata, Hiroshi Tsuboi, Kensuke Murata, Toshio Koguro, Youichi Murase