Patents by Inventor Manabu Yamada

Manabu Yamada 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: 11540562
    Abstract: An inhaler device including an atomizer configured to consume a first accumulated capacity and a second accumulated capacity to generate aerosol, and a light emitting diode (LED) configured to output a notification to an inhaler of the aerosol. The inhaler device further including circuitry configured to cause the LED to function in a first mode when the first accumulated capacity, detected or estimated, is smaller than a first threshold and the second accumulated capacity, detected or estimated, is equal to or larger than a second threshold, and cause the LED to function in a second mode different from the first mode when the first accumulated capacity is smaller than the first threshold and the second accumulated capacity is smaller than the second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Manabu Takeuchi, Hirofumi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11528943
    Abstract: An aerosol generating apparatus includes a load that generates heat upon receipt of electric power from a power supply and atomizes an aerosol source, an element that is used to acquire a value related to a temperature of the load, a retention unit that retains an aerosol source supplied from a storage to allow the retained aerosol source to be in a feasible state of being heated by the load, and a control unit configured to distinguish between a first state of the aerosol generating apparatus in which the aerosol source stored in the storage is insufficient in quantity, and a second state of the aerosol generating apparatus in which the storage is capable of supplying the aerosol source while the retained aerosol source is insufficient in quantity, on the basis of a change in the value related to the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao, Kazuma Mizuguchi, Masayuki Tsuji, Hajime Fujita
  • Publication number: 20220369723
    Abstract: An inhalation component generation device includes a load configured to vaporize or atomize an inhalation component source with electric power from a power supply, a notification unit, and a control unit configured to acquire a value indicating a remaining amount of the power supply and acquire an operation request signal to the load to generate a command for operating the load. The control unit is configured to cause the notification unit to perform second notification when the value indicating the remaining amount of the power supply is less than a first threshold and equal to or more than a second threshold smaller than the first threshold. The control unit is configured to cause the notification unit to perform third notification when the value indicating the remaining amount of the power supply is less than the second threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Manabu TAKEUCHI, Takeshi AKAO, Takuma NAKANO, Hajime FUJITA
  • Patent number: 11503670
    Abstract: Provided is a battery unit including: a power supply; a detector configured to detect an output voltage of the power supply; a connecting configured to be connectable with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source; and a controller capable of executing a power supply mode in which electric power is supplied to the load from the power supply. The controller executes a specific control different from the supply of electric power to the load based on am amount of change in the output voltage per a predetermined time period in the power supply mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Takeuchi, Takaya Takahashi, Manabu Yamada, Hajime Fujita
  • Publication number: 20220346453
    Abstract: A device includes a chamber that receives a consumable, a heating unit that heats the consumable received into the chamber, and a tubular sleeve that surrounds the chamber. The chamber includes an opening through which the consumable is inserted and a holding unit that holds the consumable. The holding unit includes a pressing unit, which presses a part of the consumable, and a non-pressing unit. The holding unit is provided with an air gap between the inner surface of the non-pressing unit and the consumable when the consumable is positioned at a desired position in the chamber, the air gap connecting the opening in the chamber and the end surface of the consumable positioned at the desired position in the chamber, or the opening in the chamber and the end surface of the consumable positioned inside the chamber and away from the opening in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Yasunobu INOUE, Tateki SUMII
  • Publication number: 20220309720
    Abstract: A boundary line visualization system having a terminal includes an image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image including a prescribed location, a terminal state acquisition unit configured to acquire a state of the terminal including coordinates and an attitude of the terminal, a boundary line generation unit configured to generate a computer graphics (CG) image based on coordinates of a boundary line present within a certain range from the terminal on the basis of the state of the terminal acquired by the terminal state acquisition unit, and a composite image generation unit configured to generate a composite image in which the CG image of the boundary line is superimposed on the image on the basis of the coordinates indicating the boundary line and the coordinates indicating the prescribed location included in the image acquired by the image acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Yoshiaki Hashimoto, Hidetoshi Sasaki, Singo Sitara
  • Publication number: 20220311398
    Abstract: An isolation amplifier of an embodiment includes: a primary circuit including an encoder configured to encode an input signal and output the encoded input signal and an anomaly detection circuit configured to detect anomaly having occurred to the input signal and generate a detection signal; an isolation unit configured to insulate the primary circuit from a secondary circuit; an output circuit configured to generate an output signal corresponding to the input signal; and an anomaly-input sensing-output circuit configured to generate an output signal from the secondary circuit by changing the output signal from the output circuit based on the detection signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Makoto ARAI, Masaki NISHIKAWA, Shoji OOTAKA, Tadashi ARAI, Manabu YAMADA, Shigeyasu IWATA, Takeshi MURASAKI
  • Patent number: 11445763
    Abstract: An inhalation component generation device includes a load configured to vaporize or atomize an inhalation component source with electric power from a power supply, a notification unit, and a control unit configured to acquire a value indicating a remaining amount of the power supply and acquire an operation request signal to the load to generate a command for operating the load. The control unit is configured to cause the notification unit to perform second notification when the value indicating the remaining amount of the power supply is less than a first threshold and equal to or more than a second threshold smaller than the first threshold. The control unit is configured to cause the notification unit to perform third notification when the value indicating the remaining amount of the power supply is less than the second threshold. The first threshold is changeable based on an algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Manabu Takeuchi, Takeshi Akao, Takuma Nakano, Hajime Fujita
  • Patent number: 11450901
    Abstract: A power supply unit for an aerosol inhaler includes: a power supply able to discharge power to a load for generating an aerosol from an aerosol source; a control unit configured to control the power supply; and a sensor configured to output a value related to a remaining amount of the power supply. The control unit detects a short circuit of the power supply based on an output value of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Akao, Manabu Yamada, Hajime Fujita
  • Publication number: 20220287377
    Abstract: A power source unit includes a power source; a flexible printed board electrically connected to the power source, the flexible printed board having a perpendicular disposition portion disposed in a manner of being substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the housing; a sensor mounted on the flexible printed board and mounted in the perpendicular disposition portion of the flexible printed board, and a housing accommodating at least the power source, the flexible printed board, and the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro MATSUDA, Manabu YAMADA
  • Patent number: 11432590
    Abstract: An inhalation component generation device including: a load configured to vaporize or atomize an inhalation component source by electric power from an electric power source; a user interface; and circuitry configured to obtain a value representing a remaining amount of the electric power source, obtain an operation requesting signal to the load, and generate an instruction for operating the load; cause the user interface to perform a first notification in a case that the value is equal to or greater than a first threshold value; cause the user interface to perform a second notification in a case that the value is less than the first threshold value and equal to or greater than a second threshold value that is less than the first threshold value; and cause the user interface to perform a third notification in a case that the value is less than the second threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Manabu Takeuchi, Takeshi Akao, Takuma Nakano, Hajime Fujita
  • Publication number: 20220264951
    Abstract: A cartridge used in a non-combustion type suction device having a suction port includes a tank having a liquid storage in which a liquid is storable; a heater to which the liquid in the liquid storage is supplied and configured to heat the liquid; and an atomizing container configured to support the heater, in which the atomizing container includes a liquid holder configured to hold the liquid and provided apart from the heater, and a liquid guide configured to recirculate the liquid held in the liquid holder to the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Kentaro MATSUDA, Manabu YAMADA
  • Patent number: 11412579
    Abstract: Provided is a battery unit including: a power supply; a detector configured to detect an output voltage of the power supply; a connecting configured to be connectable with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source; and a controller capable of executing a power supply mode in which electric power is supplied to the load from the power supply. The controller executes a specific control different from the supply of electric power to the load based on am amount of change in the output voltage per a predetermined time period in the power supply mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Takeuchi, Takaya Takahashi, Manabu Yamada, Hajime Fujita
  • Patent number: 11399572
    Abstract: An inhalation component generation device includes a load configured to vaporize or atomize an inhalation component source with electric power from a power supply, and a control unit configured to be capable of controlling supply of electric power from the power supply to the load. The control unit is configured to be capable of performing a first diagnostic function of estimating or detecting at least one of degradation and failure of the power supply during operation of the load, and a second diagnostic function of estimating or detecting at least one of degradation and failure of the power supply during charging of the power supply. The first diagnostic function and the second diagnostic function include different algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Akao, Hajime Fujita, Manabu Yamada
  • Publication number: 20220202099
    Abstract: To prevent droplets formed by agglomeration of aerosol in an aerosol flow path from reaching the inside of a user's mouth. An atomizing unit comprises an atomizing section, a tank, and a wall that defines at least part of the aerosol flow path. At least part of the wall constitutes part of a lateral wall of the tank. The aerosol flow path includes a first aerosol flow path and a second aerosol flow path. The atomizing unit includes a liquid evacuation section that is disposed in the second aerosol flow path and extends downstream of the second aerosol flow path from a boundary between the first aerosol flow path and the second aerosol flow path. The wall includes a planar portion parallel with a second direction orthogonal to a first direction at the boundary between the first aerosol flow path and the second aerosol flow path. The liquid evacuation section includes a space defined by the planar portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Manabu YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20220202082
    Abstract: To prevent droplets formed by agglomeration of aerosol in an aerosol flow path from reaching the inside of a user's mouth, an atomizing unit includes an atomizing section configured to atomize an aerosol source, a tank configured to hold the aerosol source, and a liquid holding section disposed at a front end of the tank. The tank includes a flow path wall that defines at least part of an aerosol flow path, through which aerosol generated by atomizing of the aerosol source passes, and which extends in a first direction. The atomizing unit further includes a liquid evacuation section disposed in the aerosol flow path. The liquid holding section is in communication with the liquid evacuation section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Hirofumi MATSUMOTO, Manabu YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20220201206
    Abstract: An imaging system (100) includes an imaging unit (140) configured to capture an image of a target object while the imaging unit (140) being mounted on a movable apparatus (500); and an exposure condition determination unit (161) configured to determine any one of a fixed exposure condition and an automatic exposure (AE) condition, as an exposure condition, based on a distance detected between the movable apparatus (500) and the target object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Yuji YAMANAKA, Taro KIKUCHI, Keito SAWADA, Shusaku TAKASU
  • Publication number: 20220183388
    Abstract: Provided is an aerosol generation device that suppresses the effect that errors in the production of structural elements have on the accuracy with which shortage of an aerosol source is detected. An aerosol generation device that comprises: a power source; a load that has a temperature-variable electrical resistance value and atomizes an aerosol source by generating heat due to supply of power from the power source; a first circuit that is used for the load to atomize the aerosol source; a second circuit that is connected in parallel to the first circuit, has a higher electrical resistance value than the first circuit, and is used to detect voltage that changes as a result of changes in the temperature of the load; an acquisition part that acquires the value of voltage that is applied to the second circuit and the load; and sensors that output the value of the voltage that changes as a result of changes in the temperature of the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Takeshi AKAO, Kazuma MIZUGUCHI, Masayuki TSUJI, Hajime FUJITA
  • Patent number: 11337462
    Abstract: Provided is an aerosol generation device with which it is possible to inexpensively observe a heater cooling process with high accuracy, and also possible to inexpensively detect a shortage or depletion of an aerosol source with high accuracy. An aerosol generation device includes an aerosol storage source; a load that atomizes the aerosol source by generating heat by power supplied from a power source, and has an electrical resistance value that changes depending on the temperature; a sensor that detects the electrical resistance value of the load; and a control unit that is configured so as to monitor the cooling process of the load after the temperature of the load has risen to or exceeded a temperature at which the aerosol source can be atomized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao, Kazuma Mizuguchi, Masayuki Tsuji, Hajime Fujita
  • Publication number: 20220079244
    Abstract: A method for operating an electric power source unit for an inhaler is provided. The method includes making a sensor detect a puff action performed by a user; measuring detected-time that is a puff action period during that the detected puff action is continued; correcting the measured detected-time, by using a time correction model that is based on a characteristic parameter associated with the puff action; calculating accumulated detected-time by accumulating the corrected detected-time; and estimating a remaining quantity level of an inhaled component source, based on the accumulated detected-time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Applicant: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Manabu YAMADA, Takeshi AKAO, Yasuhiro ONO, Shujiro TANAKA, Minoru KITAHARA