Patents by Inventor Kentaro AOYAMA
Kentaro AOYAMA 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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Publication number: 20240027955Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes: a main casing; a drawer movable in a first direction between a first position inside the main casing and a second position outside the main casing; process cartridges attachable to and detachable from the drawer; a controller; and a device-side terminal connected to the controller. The process cartridges are arranged in the first direction in an attached state to the drawer. Each process cartridge includes a photosensitive drum, a magnetic roller, a developing container for storing carrier, a conveying member, a toner sensor, a process memory, and a process-side terminal. The toner sensor is configured to output a detection signal corresponding to a concentration of toner in the developing container. The process-side terminal is for both outputting the detection signal of the toner sensor and outputting information about the process cartridge stored in the process memory. The device-side terminal is configured to contact the process-side terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinta SUGIURA, Shunsuke AIBA, Keita INOUE, Kentaro AOYAMA, Toshinori ARAKI
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Patent number: 11870958Abstract: In a reading device, a light transmissive member has a front surface on which an original is placed. A peripheral member is adjacent to the light transmissive member, and includes a back surface in which a reference hole is formed. The reference hole includes a first edge and a second edge intersecting with each other. A reading sensor faces the back surface of the light transmissive member and the back surface of the peripheral member. The controller controls the reading sensor to read a reading range including the reference hole to obtain a read image, and determines a reference position in the reading range based on the read image. The reference position is determined to an intersection between the first edge and the second edge. The controller sets a reading start position based on the reference position.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiki Motoyama, Yoshihiro Oyama, Yoshihiro Okamoto, Kazushi Shumiya, Kentaro Aoyama
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Publication number: 20230027157Abstract: A scanning device includes a casing holding a original document table. A facing area is provided to the casing, and a rectangular hole is formed on the facing area. The rectangular hole has edges extending along a main scanning direction and edges extending along a sub-scanning direction. The edges extending along the sub-scanning direction are located in a central area of a photoelectric conversion element row of a sensor assembly in the main scanning direction. The sensor assembly scans the rectangular hole and detects a edge extending along the main scanning direction and a edge extending along the sub-scanning direction, thereby determines a scanning start position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2022Publication date: January 26, 2023Inventors: Kentaro AOYAMA, Kunihiro AMANO, Seiya SATO, Kazushi SHUMIYA, Jie ZHENG
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Patent number: 11467533Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a drawer, an operation panel, and a sensor. The housing includes a first side wall having a first opening, and a second side wall having a vent and extending in a direction crossing the first side wall. The drawer supports a cartridge. The drawer is movable through the first opening between an inner position at which the drawer is accommodated in the housing and an outer position at which a part of the drawer is exposed to outside the housing. At least part of the operation panel protrudes from an outer surface of the second side wall. The sensor is arranged in the housing between the drawer and the second side wall. The sensor is configured to detect at least temperature or humidity of ambient air taken in through the vent.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shunsuke Hachiya, Masaaki Wakizaka, Kentaro Aoyama, Shinta Sugiura, Toshinori Araki, Keita Inoue
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Patent number: 11415929Abstract: A high-voltage electrical circuit board is located in a first region that is a region at one side of photosensitive drums in a first direction and outside of the photosensitive drums in the first direction. A first motor drives a conveyance mechanism. A second motor is located in a second region and drives each photosensitive drum. A third motor is located in the second region and drives each developing roller to rotate and to drive a separation mechanism configured to individually move the developing rollers between a contact position and a separation position. A control board is located in the second region. The control board includes a controller configured to control a first applying circuit, the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor. The first motor, the second motor, the third motor, and the control board are located at different positions from one another in the second region.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Osamu Takahashi, Masaaki Wakizaka, Kentaro Aoyama, Shunsuke Hachiya, Toshinori Araki, Keita Inoue, Shinta Sugiura
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Publication number: 20220210286Abstract: In a reading device, a light transmissive member has a front surface on which an original is placed. A peripheral member is adjacent to the light transmissive member, and includes a back surface in which a reference hole is formed. The reference hole includes a first edge and a second edge intersecting with each other. A reading sensor faces the back surface of the light transmissive member and the back surface of the peripheral member. The controller controls the reading sensor to read a reading range including the reference hole to obtain a read image, and determines a reference position in the reading range based on the read image. The reference position is determined to an intersection between the first edge and the second edge. The controller sets a reading start position based on the reference position.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2021Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Toshiki MOTOYAMA, Yoshihiro OYAMA, Yoshihiro OKAMOTO, Kazushi SHUMIYA, Kentaro AOYAMA
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Publication number: 20220026847Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a housing, a drawer, an operation panel, and a sensor. The housing includes a first side wall having a first opening, and a second side wall having a vent and extending in a direction crossing the first side wall. The drawer supports a cartridge. The drawer is movable through the first opening between an inner position at which the drawer is accommodated in the housing and an outer position at which a part of the drawer is exposed to outside the housing. At least part of the operation panel protrudes from an outer surface of the second side wall. The sensor is arranged in the housing between the drawer and the second side wall. The sensor is configured to detect at least temperature or humidity of ambient air taken in through the vent.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shunsuke HACHIYA, Masaaki WAKIZAKA, Kentaro AOYAMA, Shinta SUGIURA, Toshinori ARAKI, Keita INOUE
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Publication number: 20210271182Abstract: A high-voltage electrical circuit board is located in a first region that is a region at one side of photosensitive drums in a first direction and outside of the photosensitive drums in the first direction. A first motor drives a conveyance mechanism. A second motor is located in a second region and drives each photosensitive drum. A third motor is located in the second region and drives each developing roller to rotate and to drive a separation mechanism configured to individually move the developing rollers between a contact position and a separation position. A control board is located in the second region. The control board includes a controller configured to control a first applying circuit, the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor. The first motor, the second motor, the third motor, and the control board are located at different positions from one another in the second region.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Osamu TAKAHASHI, Masaaki WAKIZAKA, Kentaro AOYAMA, Shunsuke HACHIYA, Toshinori ARAKI, Keita INOUE, Shinta SUGIURA
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Patent number: 11095791Abstract: A reading apparatus, having a document placement plate, a reader, a driving device, a cover, and a controller, is provided. The cover includes an alignment part and a protrusive part. The protrusive part includes an uneven surface and first and second edges forming outer edges of the uneven surface extending in a main scanning direction and in a sub-scanning direction, respectively. The controller is configured control the driving device to move the reader in the sub-scanning direction and the reader while being moved to read the protrusive part, and detect the first edge and the second edge in image data of the protrusive part read by the reader based on an image of the uneven surface and determine a reading range for the reader in the document placement plate based on positions of the first edge and the second edge.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazushi Shumiya, Kentaro Aoyama, Seiya Sato, Kunihiro Amano, Jie Zheng
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Publication number: 20210195590Abstract: A device includes: a first wireless communication interface; a second wireless communication interface; a storage; and a controller. The controller is configured to perform: storing in the storage a center communication frequency of a second communication channel used for second wireless communications; determining a search target distribution, the search target distribution being a range defined by minimum and maximum communication frequencies among a plurality of communication frequencies, the plurality of communication frequencies being at least a part of a plurality of center communication frequencies stored in the storage and being separated from each other by less than a first frequency bandwidth occupied by each of a plurality of first channels; and determining a first communication channel from among at least one first channel satisfying a condition requiring that both minimum and frequencies of each of the at least one first channel be included in the search target distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2020Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventor: Kentaro Aoyama
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Patent number: 10827094Abstract: A reading apparatus, having a document supporting part, a reader, a driving mechanism, a reference density plate, and a controller, is provided. The controller controls the reader to perform a first reading action to read the reference density plate at a first position and adjust an amount of light, controls the reader to perform a second reading action under the light in the adjusted amount and create correction data for shading correction, controls the driving mechanism to move the reader from the first position toward a standby position, controls the reader while being moved from a second position toward a third position to perform a third reading action including a plurality of reading actions under the light in the adjusted amount, and inspects validity of the correction data by comparing read data obtained from signals resulted from the plurality of reading actions.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2020Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jie Zheng, Kunihiro Amano, Kazushi Shumiya, Seiya Sato, Kentaro Aoyama
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Publication number: 20200314277Abstract: A reading apparatus, having a document placement plate, a reader, a driving device, a cover, and a controller, is provided. The cover includes an alignment part and a protrusive part. The protrusive part includes an uneven surface and first and second edges forming outer edges of the uneven surface extending in a main scanning direction and in a sub-scanning direction, respectively. The controller is configured control the driving device to move the reader in the sub-scanning direction and the reader while being moved to read the protrusive part, and detect the first edge and the second edge in image data of the protrusive part read by the reader based on an image of the uneven surface and determine a reading range for the reader in the document placement plate based on positions of the first edge and the second edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazushi SHUMIYA, Kentaro Aoyama, Seiya Sato, Kunihiro Amano, Jie Zheng
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Patent number: 10791554Abstract: A device includes: a first wireless communication interface; a second wireless communication interface; a storage; and a controller. The controller is configured to perform: storing in the storage a center communication frequency of a second communication channel used for second wireless communications; determining a search target distribution, the search target distribution being a range defined by minimum and maximum communication frequencies among a plurality of communication frequencies, the plurality of communication frequencies being at least a part of a plurality of center communication frequencies stored in the storage and being separated from each other by less than a first frequency bandwidth occupied by each of a plurality of first channels; and determining a first communication channel from among at least one first channel satisfying a condition requiring that both minimum and frequencies of each of the at least one first channel be included in the search target distribution.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kentaro Aoyama
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Publication number: 20200252522Abstract: A reading apparatus, having a document supporting part, a reader, a driving mechanism, a reference density plate, and a controller, is provided. The controller controls the reader to perform a first reading action to read the reference density plate at a first position and adjust an amount of light, controls the reader to perform a second reading action under the light in the adjusted amount and create correction data for shading correction, controls the driving mechanism to move the reader from the first position toward a standby position, controls the reader while being moved from a second position toward a third position to perform a third reading action including a plurality of reading actions under the light in the adjusted amount, and inspects validity of the correction data by comparing read data obtained from signals resulted from the plurality of reading actions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2020Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jie ZHENG, Kunihiro AMANO, Kazushi SHUMIYA, Seiya SATO, Kentaro AOYAMA
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Publication number: 20180317227Abstract: A device includes: a first wireless communication interface; a second wireless communication interface; a storage; and a controller. The controller is configured to perform: storing in the storage a center communication frequency of a second communication channel used for second wireless communications; determining a search target distribution, the search target distribution being a range defined by minimum and maximum communication frequencies among a plurality of communication frequencies, the plurality of communication frequencies being at least a part of a plurality of center communication frequencies stored in the storage and being separated from each other by less than a first frequency bandwidth occupied by each of a plurality of first channels; and determining a first communication channel from among at least one first channel satisfying a condition requiring that both minimum and frequencies of each of the at least one first channel be included in the search target distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Applicant: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kentaro Aoyama
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Patent number: 9661167Abstract: A communication controller controls non-contact communication with an external device via an antenna while at least one of first and second power is supplied. A first circuit electrically connects a first power supply to a communication node. A second circuit electrically connects a second power supply to the communication node. The first circuit includes a first electrical component configured to prevent second power from being supplied to a particular target electrically connected to the first power supply while the second power is supplied to the communication node. The communication controller communicates with the communication node in a certain data communication method while the second power is supplied to the communication node. In response to reception of electric power from the external device via the antenna, the second power supply supplies the second power to the communication controller, and supplies the second power to the communication node through the second circuit.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2014Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhito Misumi, Wataru Fujishiro, Kentaro Aoyama, Etsuteru Inoue
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Patent number: 9447944Abstract: The present invention provides an unsaturated polyester resin composition including an unsaturated polyester, a crosslinking agent, an inorganic filling material, a hollow filler, and a fibrous reinforcing material, in which the hollow filler has a content ratio of a hollow filler having a particle diameter of 30 ?m or less of 80 vol % or more with respect to the total volume of the hollow filler, and in which the content of the hollow filler in the unsaturated polyester resin composition is from 15 to 24 mass %. The unsaturated polyester resin composition can provide a molded article having both reduced specific gravity and improved self-tapping strength while maintaining the conventional characteristics (surface smoothness, heat resistance, mechanical strength, dimensional accuracy, and moldability).Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignees: SHOWA DENKO K.K., STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobuhito Hagiwara, Kentaro Aoyama, Toshitada Miki, Eiji Mano
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Publication number: 20150189112Abstract: A communication controller controls non-contact communication with an external device via an antenna while at least one of first and second power is supplied. A first circuit electrically connects a first power supply to a communication node. A second circuit electrically connects a second power supply to the communication node. The first circuit includes a first electrical component configured to prevent second power from being supplied to a particular target electrically connected to the first power supply while the second power is supplied to the communication node. The communication controller communicates with the communication node in a certain data communication method while the second power is supplied to the communication node. In response to reception of electric power from the external device via the antenna, the second power supply supplies the second power to the communication controller, and supplies the second power to the communication node through the second circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2014Publication date: July 2, 2015Inventors: Kazuhito MISUMI, Wataru FUJISHIRO, Kentaro AOYAMA, Etsuteru INOUE
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Publication number: 20150099827Abstract: The present invention provides an unsaturated polyester resin composition including an unsaturated polyester, a crosslinking agent, an inorganic filling material, a hollow filler, and a fibrous reinforcing material, in which the hollow filler has a content ratio of a hollow filler having a particle diameter of 30 ?m or less of 80 vol % or more with respect to the total volume of the hollow filler, and in which the content of the hollow filler in the unsaturated polyester resin composition is from 15 to 24 mass %. The unsaturated polyester resin composition can provide a molded article having both reduced specific gravity and improved self-tapping strength while maintaining the conventional characteristics (surface smoothness, heat resistance, mechanical strength, dimensional accuracy, and moldability).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2013Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Nobuhito Hagiwara, Kentaro Aoyama, Toshitada Miki, Eiji Mano
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Patent number: 8953211Abstract: A communication device, including: a touch sensor configured to detect a touch or an approach of an input object by detecting a change in capacitance; a near field communicator configured to perform near field communication with an information processing terminal present in a communication area in which near field communication is possible, the information processing terminal being capable of performing the near field communication; and a controller configured to control the communication device in accordance with detection of the touch or the approach of the input object by the touch sensor, wherein the controller is configured to reduce detection sensitivity of the touch sensor for detecting the input object when the information processing terminal is in the communication area.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2014Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kentaro Aoyama