Patents by Inventor Kimiaki Imai
Kimiaki Imai 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: 8207464Abstract: In a portable terminal, a plurality of operation keys 7 are formed in a key through hole, which is formed in a housing main body that covers a printed board 15, by partitioning a stainless steel sheet 26 (a key sheet) by slits 26a. A urethane sheet 28 is attached to the rear side of the stainless steel sheet 26, where the urethane sheet 28 has ridge portions 28a that bulge out through the slits 26a to the front side of the stainless steel sheet 26, and the rear sides of the ridge portions 28a have groove-like openings. A rubber layer 29 is attached to the rear side of the urethane sheet 28, where the rubber layer 29 has a plurality of protruding portions 23 that protrudes toward a substrate 25 at positions corresponding to a plurality of fixed contacts 16 over the substrate 25. LEDs (light emitting means) and a light guide sheet 21 are disposed closer to the substrate than the rubber layer 29 is.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2008Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaru Matsumoto, Kimiaki Imai
-
Patent number: 8200296Abstract: Foldable mobile equipment is provided with a first housing 3 including a liquid crystal display part (display part) at the front face thereof, a second housing 5 including an operation part at the front face thereof, and a hinge portion 6 connecting the first housing 3 and the second housing 5 to each other foldably about an open/close axis X and supporting the first housing 3 so that the first housing 3 can be flipped over about a vertical axis Y vertical to the open/close axis X. The liquid crystal display part is supported on the first housing 3 by means of a cam mechanism 10 (a support mechanism) so as to be switchable between a portrait orientation and a landscape orientation.Type: GrantFiled: December 25, 2006Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toyohiro Arakane, Kimiaki Imai
-
Patent number: 8036411Abstract: There are provided a speaker for outputting sound, a plurality of sound output holes formed in a reverse side cabinet, a mesh sheet, a two-sided tape, and a transparent sheet. The sound output holes, the mesh sheet, the two-sided tape, and the transparent sheet control the direction of sound output from the speaker.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenzoh Daimon, Kimiaki Imai
-
Patent number: 8014842Abstract: A sliding mechanism is provided to couple slidably a first housing having on its surface a vertically long liquid crystal display part long in the vertical direction to a second housing having on its surface an operating part. This slide mechanism includes a rail part which is mounted on the surface of the second housing in a manner of extending in the vertical direction and is configured such that when the first housing has slidingly moved by means of the slide mechanism to the upper end side of the second housing, the operating part of the second housing will appear. Further, by means of the cam mechanism (support mechanism), the first housing is supported relative to the second housing in a switchable manner between the vertically long state and the horizontally long state.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2007Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ayako Kuga, Kohichi Matsuda, Kimiaki Imai
-
Patent number: 7957778Abstract: A folding mobile phone (folding portable communications device) includes a first housing including a liquid crystal display part (display part) provided at a surface thereof, a second housing including an operating part provided at a surface thereof, and a hinge connecting the first and second housings to allow the first and second housings to be freely opened and closed in their folded form. A cam mechanism (support mechanism) supports the liquid crystal display part switchably between a vertical position and a horizontal position and to allow the liquid crystal display part to turn both clockwise and counterclockwise as viewed from the front.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2007Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Minoru Makino, Kimiaki Imai
-
Patent number: 7941192Abstract: A torsion coil spring has first and second coil parts and first to third straight line parts. One end of the first coil part is continued to a first straight line part, while the other end is continued to one end of a second straight line part. The other end of the second straight line part is continued to one end of a second coil part, and the other end of the second coil part is continued to one end of the third straight line part. Also, a mobile terminal having a first housing slidably coupled to a second housing is provided. On the surface of the second housing, a pair of rail parts is provided extending in a sliding direction of the first housing. Between the rail parts, the torsion coil spring is provided for aiding sliding of the first housing on the rail parts of the second housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2007Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masayuki Mifune, Kimiaki Imai
-
Patent number: 7925313Abstract: A longitudinally-extending liquid crystal display part is provided at a front face of a first housing. A camera accommodation part is provided at an upper end of a second housing to bulge from a front face of the second housing and extend laterally, and an operating part is disposed in the second housing below the camera accommodation part. The first housing is supported by a cam mechanism (support mechanism) in the second housing changeably between a vertical position in which it is superposed on the second housing as viewed from the front face of the second housing and a horizontal position in which it lies orthogonal to the second housing to expose the operating part by turning the first housing on and along the front face of the second housing by means of the cam mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2008Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Sunao Kajihara, Kimiaki Imai, Satoshi Mizuno
-
Patent number: 7819559Abstract: A light-source cover for controlling transmission of light from a light source mounted in a portable device is made of an optical material. The front surface of the light-source cover has a knurl finish composed of linear grooves and the back surface thereof has a spin finish composed of ripple grooves. Alternatively, both the front and back surfaces of the light-source cover have knurl finishes composed of linear grooves. Still alternatively, only the back surface of the light-source cover has a knurl finish or a spin finish.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2007Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomotaka Nishihara, Kimiaki Imai
-
Publication number: 20100190530Abstract: In a foldable portable terminal, a display device 6 is contained in a first housing 2. The display device 6 includes a display panel 4 that is longer in a lateral direction, and a driver 5 for driving the display panel 4. A pair of first hinge bearing portions 2a are respectively formed at lower right and left ends of the first housing 2 so as to protrude beyond the front surface of the first housing 2 with respect to the display panel 4. An operation section 8 is contained in a second housing 3, and a pair of second hinge bearing portions 3a are formed at an upper end of the second housing 3 so as to protrude horizontally between the first hinge bearing portions 3a. An open/close shaft is disposed in each of right and left pairs of the first hinge bearing portion 2a and the second hinge bearing portion 3a which are rotatably coupled with each other, in order to foldably connect the first housing 2 and the second housing 3 to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Kouhei Wada, Kimiaki Imai
-
Patent number: 7719609Abstract: A foldable portable instrument with camera includes a first housing and a second housing connected in a foldable manner, a main display portion provided in the first housing, and a camera provided in the second housing. The camera is attached to the second housing such that a perpendicular direction with respect to a display surface of main display portion and an optical axis direction of the camera are identical when the first housing and the second housing are in an opened state. Accordingly, a foldable portable instrument with camera allowing natural image pick-up and directing the camera to a subject in a facilitated manner with a simplified configuration, when an image is picked up by the camera while it is monitored on the display portion, is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2004Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirofumi Oda, Kimiaki Imai
-
Publication number: 20100044203Abstract: In a portable terminal, a plurality of operation keys 7 are formed in a key through hole, which is formed in a housing main body that covers a printed board 15, by partitioning a stainless steel sheet 26 (a key sheet) by slits 26a. A urethane sheet 28 is attached to the rear side of the stainless steel sheet 26, where the urethane sheet 28 has ridge portions 28a that bulge out through the slits 26a to the front side of the stainless steel sheet 26, and the rear sides of the ridge portions 28a have groove-like openings. A rubber layer 29 is attached to the rear side of the urethane sheet 28, where the rubber layer 29 has a plurality of protruding portions 23 that protrudes toward a substrate 25 at positions corresponding to a plurality of fixed contacts 16 over the substrate 25. LEDs (light emitting means) and a light guide sheet 21 are disposed closer to the substrate than the rubber layer 29 is.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2008Publication date: February 25, 2010Inventors: Masaru Matsumoto, Kimiaki Imai
-
Patent number: 7605863Abstract: A camera-equipped portable device has first and second bodies, a camera for taking a picture, and a main display portion displaying the taken picture. The camera and the main display portion are arranged on the same surface of first body, and the camera is fixed to the first body such that an optical axis of the camera extends in a direction different from a direction perpendicular to a display surface of the main display portion. Thereby, it is possible to provide an image pick-up device, which allows picture-taking in a natural position, can suppress increase in product cost and can have a compact structure.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2004Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirofumi Oda, Kimiaki Imai
-
Publication number: 20090104942Abstract: Foldable mobile equipment is provided with a first housing 3 including a liquid crystal display part (display part) at the front face thereof, a second housing 5 including an operation part at the front face thereof, and a hinge portion 6 connecting the first housing 3 and the second housing 5 to each other foldably about an open/close axis X and supporting the first housing 3 so that the first housing 3 can be flipped over about a vertical axis Y vertical to the open/close axis X. The liquid crystal display part is supported on the first housing 3 by means of a cam mechanism 10 (a support mechanism) so as to be switchable between a portrait orientation and a landscape orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 25, 2006Publication date: April 23, 2009Inventors: Toyohiro Arakane, Kimiaki Imai
-
Patent number: 7500866Abstract: An earphone microphone terminal cover is a lid for covering an opening formed at a mobile phone body, and includes a lid portion covering the opening and located in a groove communicated with the opening; and a first projection formed at the lid portion for insertion into a concavity extending from the groove. The first projection extends outward from the lid portion, and has a contact portion for contact with the concavity, and a distance between a front surface of the lid portion and the contact portion is equal to or longer than a distance between the front and rear surfaces of the lid portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2006Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhiko Gennai, Kimiaki Imai
-
Publication number: 20080291657Abstract: A light-source cover for controlling transmission of light from a light source mounted in a portable device is made of an optical material. The front surface of the light-source cover has a knurl finish composed of linear grooves and the back surface thereof has a spin finish composed of ripple grooves. Alternatively, both the front and back surfaces of the light-source cover have knurl finishes composed of linear grooves. Still alternatively, only the back surface of the light-source cover has a knurl finish or a spin finish.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2007Publication date: November 27, 2008Inventors: Tomotaka Nishihara, Kimiaki Imai
-
Patent number: 7444176Abstract: A first box body is inserted between a first flat part and a first frame portion of a cover and is fastened to the cover by means of a first fastening member so that the first frame portion is interposed between the first box body and a plate-shaped first fixing member forming a first fixing member window for exposing a display section. A second box body is inserted between a second flat part and a second frame portion of the cover and is fastened to the cover by means of a second fastening member so that the second frame portion is interposed between the second box body and a plate-shaped second fixing member forming a second fixing member window for exposing an operation section.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2007Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirofumi Oda, Kimiaki Imai, Yoshihiko Handa
-
Patent number: 7433722Abstract: A portable phone 1 includes a first housing 2, a second housing 4 having a display section 14, and a hinge section 3 that connects the first housing 2 and the second housing 4 so that the display section is positioned horizontally when placing the portable phone 1 on an object. The hinge section 3 includes a first rotation axis 5 that allows the hinge section 3 and the second housing 4 to rotate toward the first housing 2 and with a second rotation axis 6 that is disposed orthogonal to the first rotation axis 5 in a region apart from the second central face ?2 in the second housing 4. The distance between the second rotation axis 6 and the side face 4b on the second rotation axis 6 part with respect to the second central face ?2 in the second housing 4 is configured in such a way as to either substantially equal or be shorter than the distance between the first rotation axis 5 and the front face 7a of the first housing 2.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akemi Sakamoto, Kimiaki Imai
-
Publication number: 20080242380Abstract: A longitudinally-extending liquid crystal display part is provided at a front face of a first housing. A camera accommodation part is provided at an upper end of a second housing to bulge from a front face of the second housing and extend laterally, and an operating part is disposed in the second housing below the camera accommodation part. The first housing is supported by a cam mechanism (support mechanism) in the second housing changeably between a vertical position in which it is superposed on the second housing as viewed from the front face of the second housing and a horizontal position in which it lies orthogonal to the second housing to expose the operating part by turning the first housing on and along the front face of the second housing by means of the cam mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventors: Sunao Kajihara, Kimiaki Imai, Satoshi Mizuno
-
Publication number: 20080153558Abstract: A torsion coil panel having stretching force in a torsional direction is provided with a first and a second coil parts and a first to a third straight line parts. One end of the first coil part is continued to a first straight line part, while the other end is continued to one end of a second straight line part. The other end of the second straight line part is continued to one end of a second coil part, and the other end of the second coil part is continued to one end of the third straight line part. Also, a first housing having a display part on its surface and a second housing having an operation part on its surface are provided. The first housing and the second housing are electrically connected through a flexible substrate and slidably coupled through a slide mechanism. On the surface of the second housing, a pair of rail parts are provided extending in a sliding direction of the first housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2007Publication date: June 26, 2008Inventors: Masayuki Mifune, Kimiaki Imai
-
Publication number: 20080096619Abstract: A sliding mechanism is provided to couple slidably a first housing having on its surface a vertically long liquid crystal display part long in the vertical direction to a second housing having on its surface an operating part. This slide mechanism includes a rail part which is mounted on the surface of the second housing in a manner of extending in the vertical direction and is configured such that when the first housing has slidingly moved by means of the slide mechanism to the upper end side of the second housing, the operating part of the second housing will appear. Further, by means of the cam mechanism (support mechanism), the first housing is supported relative to the second housing in a switchable manner between the vertically long state and the horizontally long state.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2007Publication date: April 24, 2008Inventors: Ayako KUGA, Kohichi Matsuda, Kimiaki Imai