Patents by Inventor Kouji Kataoka

Kouji Kataoka 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: 11953047
    Abstract: A formed body of Cu—Al—Mn-based shape-memory alloy may include a screw portion, wherein the screw portion is a form-rolled portion. A method for producing a formed body of Cu—Al—Mn-based shape-memory alloy may involve forming a screw portion having superelasticity by plastically working at least a portion of a material for the formed body with form-rolling in a state that a crystal structure is an A2-type structure and then, subjecting heat-treatment so as to convert the A2-type crystal structure into an L21-type crystal structure. The screw portion can be formed with good working property, and has excellent fatigue resistance and breaking resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: FURUKAWA TECHNO MATERIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sumio Kise, Toyonobu Tanaka, Kenji Uruma, Kouji Ishikawa, Nanami Kataoka, Shigekazu Yokoyama, Toyohiko Higashida, Yoshitaka Azuma
  • Patent number: 10008224
    Abstract: A magnetic read element having an additional magnetic layer, “a floating magnetic shield”, formed as a part of a capping structure of a magnetoresistive element. The capping structure is formed over the magnetic free layer and includes a magnetic layer that is located between first and second non-magnetic layers. The magnetic layer can advantageously be formed with a high magnetic permeability for increased signal amplitude and increased signal resolution. In addition, because the magnetic layer of the capping layer structure acts as a magnetic shield, it can reduce effective magnetic gap spacing for increased signal resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Takahiro Ibusuki, Kouji Kataoka, Takashi Wagatsuma, Norihiro Okawa, Yukimasa Okada
  • Publication number: 20170263273
    Abstract: A magnetic read element having an additional magnetic layer, “a floating magnetic shield”, formed as a part of a capping structure of a magnetoresistive element. The capping structure is formed over the magnetic free layer and includes a magnetic layer that is located between first and second non-magnetic layers. The magnetic layer can advantageously he formed with a high magnetic permeability for increased signal amplitude and increased signal resolution. In addition, because the magnetic layer of the capping layer structure acts as a magnetic shield, it can reduce effective magnetic gap spacing for increased signal resolution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Takahiro Ibusuki, Kouji Kataoka, Takashi Wagatsuma, Norihiro Okawa, Yukimasa Okada
  • Publication number: 20150228297
    Abstract: A magnetic read sensor having an extended pinned layer and having a free layer structure with a back edge formed at an angle for optimizing sensor performance and pinned layer pinning. The magnetic free layer has a back edge that is formed at an angle of between 6 and 10 degrees relative to a plane parallel with the air bearing surface plane. The magnetic sensor can be formed by forming the free layer stripe height with an ion milling that is performed at an angle of 6 to 10 degrees relative to normal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Takashi Wagatsuma, Yukimasa Okada, Katsumi Hoshino, Kouji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 9099123
    Abstract: A magnetic read sensor having an extended pinned layer and having a free layer structure with a back edge formed at an angle for optimizing sensor performance and pinned layer pinning. The magnetic free layer has a back edge that is formed at an angle of between 6 and 10 degrees relative to a plane parallel with the air bearing surface plane. The magnetic sensor can be formed by forming the free layer stripe height with an ion milling that is performed at an angle of 6 to 10 degrees relative to normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Takashi Wagatsuma, Yukimasa Okada, Katsumi Hoshino, Kouji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 9019649
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk medium, at least one magnetic head having at least one of: a magnetic read element configured to read data from the magnetic disk medium and a magnetic write element configured to write data to the magnetic disk medium, and a heating element configured to generate heat upon application of a voltage/current thereto, wherein the heating element is positioned on, near, or within the magnetic head, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic disk medium over the at least one magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head, wherein the controller is configured to retract the at least one magnetic head from a flying state above the magnetic disk medium and apply the voltage/current to the heating element while the magnetic head is retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Yukimasa Okada, Katsumi Hoshino, Kouji Kataoka, Takashi Wagatsuma
  • Patent number: 8976492
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a lower shield, a read element positioned above the lower shield at a media-facing surface of the magnetic head, the read element having a free layer, an upper shield positioned above the read element, a first domain control layer having a direction of magnetization in a predetermined direction, the first domain control layer being configured to control a direction of magnetization of the free layer toward the predetermined direction, and a second domain control layer configured to have a magnetization in a same direction as the direction of magnetization of the first domain control layer, the second domain control layer being positioned above the first domain control layer, wherein the first domain control layer is a hard magnetic layer, and wherein the second domain control layer is a soft magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kouji Kataoka, Takashi Wagatsuma, Katsumi Hoshino, Takahiro Ibusuki, Yukimasa Okada, Norihiro Ookawa
  • Patent number: 8873203
    Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a read sensor adapted for sensing an external magnetic field; an upper magnetic shield positioned above the read sensor along an air bearing surface (ABS) of the read sensor; a lower magnetic shield positioned below the read sensor along the ABS of the read sensor; a rear insulating layer positioned on a rear side of the read sensor, the rear side being on an opposite side of the read sensor as the ABS of the read sensor; and a soft magnetic layer positioned near the rear side of the read sensor opposite the ABS of the read sensor, wherein the rear insulating layer is positioned between the soft magnetic layer and the read sensor, and wherein the rear insulating layer is positioned between the soft magnetic layer and the lower magnetic shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Katsumi Hoshino, Kouji Kataoka, Takashi Wagatsuma, Yukimasa Okada
  • Publication number: 20140226237
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk medium, at least one magnetic head having at least one of: a magnetic read element configured to read data from the magnetic disk medium and a magnetic write element configured to write data to the magnetic disk medium, and a heating element configured to generate heat upon application of a voltage/current thereto, wherein the heating element is positioned on, near, or within the magnetic head, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic disk medium over the at least one magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head, wherein the controller is configured to retract the at least one magnetic head from a flying state above the magnetic disk medium and apply the voltage/current to the heating element while the magnetic head is retracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Yukimasa Okada, Katsumi Hoshino, Kouji Kataoka, Takashi Wagatsuma
  • Publication number: 20140177093
    Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a read sensor adapted for sensing an external magnetic field; an upper magnetic shield positioned above the read sensor along an air bearing surface (ABS) of the read sensor; a lower magnetic shield positioned below the read sensor along the ABS of the read sensor; a rear insulating layer positioned on a rear side of the read sensor, the rear side being on an opposite side of the read sensor as the ABS of the read sensor; and a soft magnetic layer positioned near the rear side of the read sensor opposite the ABS of the read sensor, wherein the rear insulating layer is positioned between the soft magnetic layer and the read sensor, and wherein the rear insulating layer is positioned between the soft magnetic layer and the lower magnetic shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Katsumi Hoshino, Kouji Kataoka, Takashi Wagatsuma, Yukimasa Okada
  • Patent number: 8611647
    Abstract: An unprocessed image is prepared which is shot against an arbitrary background, including materials to be trimmed. Color values are collected from a plurality of frames of this unprocessed image in a collection point including one or more pixels, whereby a color information set is obtained. From the color information set, it is judged which color shows the background and which color shows the materials to be trimmed, thereby determining an optimum background-side color value. This process is applied to an area where to extract the background from, thereby obtaining a background image into which the background is extracted. This makes it possible to obtain background images from unprocessed images that are shot in busy locations, without traffic controls or dedicated studios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: M. Soft Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8487189
    Abstract: A wired circuit board assembly sheet has a plurality of wired circuit boards, distinguishing marks for distinguishing defectiveness of the wired circuit boards, and a supporting sheet for supporting the plurality of wired circuit boards and the distinguishing marks. Each of the distinguishing marks has an indication portion for indicating a specified one of the wired circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Naito, Tetsuya Ohsawa, Kouji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8362360
    Abstract: A wired circuit board assembly sheet has a plurality of wired circuit boards, distinguishing marks for distinguishing defectiveness of the wired circuit boards, and a supporting sheet for supporting the plurality of wired circuit boards and the distinguishing marks. Each of the distinguishing marks has an indication portion for indicating a specified one of the wired circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Naito, Tetsuya Ohsawa, Kouji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8294824
    Abstract: Using a background-side image which is a shot of an arbitrary background and a material-side image which is a shot of a composition material against the same background, two images are compared to extract an image material to be composited. Images shot in any scenery can thus be used to extract a composition material, being part of the images, without using a certain background such as a blue screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: M. Soft Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8017871
    Abstract: A wired circuit board assembly sheet has a plurality of wired circuit boards, distinguishing marks for distinguishing defectiveness of the wired circuit boards, and a supporting sheet for supporting the plurality of wired circuit boards and the distinguishing marks. Each of the distinguishing marks has an indication portion for indicating a specified one of the wired circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Naito, Tetsuya Ohsawa, Kouji Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20110176727
    Abstract: An unprocessed image is prepared which is shot against an arbitrary background, including materials to be trimmed. Color values are collected from a plurality of frames of this unprocessed image in a collection point including one or more pixels, whereby a color information set is obtained. From the color information set, it is judged which color shows the background and which color shows the materials to be trimmed, thereby determining an optimum background-side color value. This process is applied to an area where to extract the background from, thereby obtaining a background image into which the background is extracted. This makes it possible to obtain background images from unprocessed images that are shot in busy locations, without traffic controls or dedicated studios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: M. SOFT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kouji Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20110155421
    Abstract: A wired circuit board assembly sheet has a plurality of wired circuit boards, distinguishing marks for distinguishing defectiveness of the wired circuit boards, and a supporting sheet for supporting the plurality of wired circuit boards and the distinguishing marks. Each of the distinguishing marks has an indication portion for indicating a specified one of the wired circuit boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Naito, Tetsuya Ohsawa, Kouji Kataoka
  • Publication number: 20110139490
    Abstract: A wired circuit board assembly sheet has a plurality of wired circuit boards, distinguishing marks for distinguishing defectiveness of the wired circuit boards, and a supporting sheet for supporting the plurality of wired circuit boards and the distinguishing marks. Each of the distinguishing marks has an indication portion for indicating a specified one of the wired circuit boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Naito, Tetsuya Ohsawa, Kouji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7816609
    Abstract: A wired circuit board is provided having a reinforced part thickened to ensure a high rigidity when it is used, while having the reinforced part thinned for easy handling when it is not yet used to prevent a cost increase and a productivity reduction. When the wired circuit board is used, a folding portion is valley-folded to laminate a reinforcing portion on a second connecting portion to contact the back surface of a fourth reinforcing plate of the reinforcing portion with the back surface of a second reinforcing plate of the second connecting portion. This achieves to reinforce the second connecting portion with the second reinforcing plate and the reinforcing portion and ensure a high rigidity by thickening the reinforced part. Since the reinforcing portion is supported in the same plane as a wired circuit portion via the folding portion before it is used, the reinforced part can be thinned and easy handling is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventor: Kouji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 7732027
    Abstract: A polypropylene film comprising 70-90 wt. % polymer (a), 2-10 wt. % polymer (b), 2-10 wt. % polymer (c) and 3-20 wt. % polymer (d) and having a haze of 8-30% (wherein the polymer (a) is a block copolymer prepared by producing a polymer part (component a1) by polymerizing in a first step monomers composed mainly of propylene in the absence of an inert solvent and producing an ethylene/propylene copolymer part (component a2) in a second step by polymerization subsequently carried out in a gas phase; the polymer (b) is an ethylene-based polymer having a density of 0.91-0.97 g/cm3 and a melt flow rate of 5-30 g/10 min; the polymer (c) is an ethylene/?-olefin random copolymer having a density of 0.86-0.90 g/cm3 and a melt flow rate of 0.3-5 g/10 min; and the polymer (d) comprises two or more propylene-based polymers different in molecular weight from each other).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignees: Toray Advanced Film Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited
    Inventors: Yoichi Matsuura, Masanori Takeuchi, Kouji Kataoka, Hiroshi Nozawa