Patents by Inventor Maki HIRAOKA

Maki HIRAOKA 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: 20180163707
    Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator device comprising an actuator wire; a net-shaped electric heating element which covers a side surface of the actuator wire and comprises heating wires; and a controller for supplying electric power to the net-shaped electric heating element to heat the net-shaped electric heating element. The actuator wire is capable of being contracted by application of heat and restored by release of heat. The side surface of the actuator wire is formed of polymer. One end and the other end of the net-shaped electric heating element is connected to one end and the other end of the actuator wire, respectively. The net-shaped electric heating element is in contact with the side surface of the actuator wire, when the net-shaped electric heating element is not heated. The net-shaped electric heating element is moved outward from the side surface of the actuator wire due to contraction of the actuator wire, when the net-shaped electric heating element is heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: YURIKO KANEKO, MAKI HIRAOKA, HIDEKAZU ARASE
  • Publication number: 20170198833
    Abstract: A micro check valve apparatus connected to a microchannel device includes: a substrate; a chamber that is positioned inside the substrate and has an upper surface having a projection, and a tapered part positioned at a lower part of the chamber; a micro discharging channel connected to a side surface of the chamber; a micro introducing channel connected to the tapered part of the chamber; and a spherical valve positioned on the tapered part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: MAKI HIRAOKA, MITSUOKI HISHIDA, AKIHISA YAMADA, TOSINORI YAMANAKA, TOSHINOBU MATSUNO
  • Patent number: 9673382
    Abstract: In order to solve the problem of the generation of the interspace between layers, the present invention provides an actuator including: a conductive polymer layer; an ambient temperature molten salt layer; and an opposite electrode layer; wherein the ambient temperature molten salt layer is interposed between the conductive polymer layer and the opposite electrode layer, the ambient temperature molten salt layer includes an adhesive layer in the inside thereof; one surface of the adhesive layer adheres to the conductive polymer layer; and the other surface of the adhesive layer adheres to the opposite electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignees: Panasonic Corporation, IMEC vzw, Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Maki Hiraoka, Paolo Fiorini, Bjorn Vandecasteele
  • Publication number: 20170035550
    Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator, comprising a fiber and a temperature regulator capable of at least one of heating and cooling the fiber. The fiber is twisted around a longitudinal axis thereof. The fiber is folded so as to have a shape of a cylindrical coil. The fiber is formed of linear low-density polyethylene. The following mathematical formula (I) is satisfied: D/d<1 (I), where D represents a mean diameter of the cylindrical coil; and d represents a diameter of the fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: MAKI HIRAOKA, KATSUHIKO ASAI, YURIKO KANEKO, HIDEKAZU ARASE, ATSUSHI OMOTE
  • Publication number: 20140345697
    Abstract: In order to solve the problem of the generation of the interspace between layers, the present invention provides an actuator including: a conductive polymer layer; an ambient temperature molten salt layer; and an opposite electrode layer; wherein the ambient temperature molten salt layer is interposed between the conductive polymer layer and the opposite electrode layer, the ambient temperature molten salt layer includes an adhesive layer in the inside thereof; one surface of the adhesive layer adheres to the conductive polymer layer; and the other surface of the adhesive layer adheres to the opposite electrode layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Maki Hiraoka, Paolo Fiorini, Bjorn Vandegasteele
  • Publication number: 20140234492
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a coated confection in which the wear resistance and shape retention property in high temperature of the center thereof are improved by coating a sufficient amount of shellac on a center with a complex shape. More particularly, the present invention relates to a coated confection composed of a center composed of an oil-based confection and shellac coating the center, wherein a coating rate of shellac is 0.1 to 10%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: MEIJI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadashi Matsuura, Maki Hiraoka, Naoko Takai, Hiroyuki Utsunomiya
  • Publication number: 20140186846
    Abstract: Provided is a DNA chip with micro-channel for DNA analysis, which has a structure in which a silicon layer (chip A) and a plastic layer (chip B) are laminated, wherein the chip A includes at least two PCR reactors connected in series in a micro-channel, and a filter between the PCR reactors, the chip B includes a reagent, a liquid delivery mechanism and a sensor in a micro-channel, and the reagent, liquid delivery mechanism and sensor can be changed according to a kind of an analyte and an object to be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: IMEC, Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki TANAKA, Maki HIRAOKA, Benjamin JONES, Paolo FIORINI