Patents by Inventor Masaaki Fukumoto
Masaaki Fukumoto 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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Patent number: 11516570Abstract: Implementations of the subject matter described herein provide a silent voice input solution without being noticed by surroundings. Compared with conventional voice input solutions which are based on normal speech or whispering, the proposed “silent” voice input method is performed by using ingressive voice during the user's breathing-in process. By placing the apparatus very close to the user's mouth with a ultra-small gap formed between the microphone and the apparatus, the proposed silent voice input solution can realize a very small voice leakage, and thereby allowing the user to use ultra-low voice speech input in public and mobile situations, without disturbing surrounding people.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Masaaki Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20220374052Abstract: A method of controlling opening resistance in an electronic device includes maintaining the electronic device in a closed state via a resistive force, wherein the resistive force is applied by at least one of: a hinge of the electronic device, and magnets of the electronic device. The method further includes using a sensor on an underside of the electronic device to detect a force applied to a first portion of the electronic device and determining that the force corresponds to a user initiating opening of the electronic device. In accordance with the determination, the method further includes reducing the resistive force to assist the user in opening the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2020Publication date: November 24, 2022Inventors: Han LI, Masaaki FUKUMOTO, Nathan Michael THOME, James David HOLBERY, Paul Christopher KOS
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Patent number: 11474606Abstract: Embodiments of the subject matter described herein provide an apparatus for use in a pointing device. The apparatus includes an interacting body and a depressible force sensing layer. The rigid interacting body is operable to receive and translate a force provided by a tool. The depressible force sensing layer has an embossed portion that is arranged between the interacting body and a substrate. The embossed portion includes a first surface in contact with a second surface of the interacting body, and a profile of the first surface is substantially same as a profile of the second surface of the interacting body.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2016Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventor: Masaaki Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20220326787Abstract: Implementations of the subject matter described herein provide a solution in which a quick and comfortable operation can be achieved while providing the improved intuitiveness. In the solution, a scroll assembly for use with a pointing device is provided. The scroll assembly comprises: a first scroll member for controlling a first movement of an object on a user interface; and at least one second scroll member for controlling a second movement of the object on the user interface, the second scroll member being adapted to, in response to an operation applied substantially in the first direction, rotate and provide a haptic feedback in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventor: Masaaki FUKUMOTO
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Publication number: 20220292950Abstract: A communicator in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a connector, a communication circuit, and a communication controller. The connector is electrically coupled to an electric working machine. The communication circuit performs wireless communication. The communication controller cyclically transmits operational information without specifying a recipient via the communication circuit in response to an operating mode of the communication controller being set to an operation-transmission mode. The operational information indicates an operating state of the electric working machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Applicant: MAKITA CORPORATIONInventors: Takuya KUSAKAWA, Masaaki FUKUMOTO
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Publication number: 20220276726Abstract: A method, an apparatus and a corresponding electronic device for dynamically providing perceptible feedback for a rotary control component of an electronic device are provided. An operation on the rotary control component is detected. An initial value of the rotary control component is synchronized with a software control value of the electronic device. A variation value corresponding to the operation is identified. It is determined that the initial value and the variation value meet a feedback condition. Perceptible feedback is provided through a feedback component of the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2019Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Paul KOS, Masaaki Fukumoto, Siyuan Ma
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Publication number: 20220230650Abstract: Noise reduction in a robot system includes the use of a gesture library that pairs noise profiles with gestures that can be performed by the robot. A gesture to be performed by the robot is obtained, and the robot performs the gesture. The robot's performance of the gesture creates noise, and when a user speaks to the robot while the robot performs a gesture, incoming audio includes both user audio and robot noise. A noise profile associated with the gesture is retrieved from the gesture library and is applied to remove the robot noise from the incoming audio.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2022Publication date: July 21, 2022Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Katsushi IKEUCHI, Masaaki FUKUMOTO, Johnny H. LEE, Jordan Lee KRAVITZ, David William BAUMERT
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Patent number: 11392227Abstract: A scroll assembly (10) for use with a pointing device (100), comprises: a first scroll member (1) for controlling a first movement of an object on a user interface; and at least one second scroll member (2) for controlling a second movement of the object on the user interface, the second scroll member (2) being adapted to, in response to an operation applied substantially in the first direction (Y), rotate and provide a haptic feedback in a second direction (X) that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction (Y).Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: July 19, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Masaaki Fukumoto
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Patent number: 11386767Abstract: A communicator in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a connector, a communication circuit, and a communication controller. The connector is electrically coupled to an electric working machine. The communication circuit performs wireless communication. The communication controller cyclically transmits operational information without specifying a recipient via the communication circuit in response to an operating mode of the communication controller being set to an operation-transmission mode. The operational information indicates an operating state of the electric working machine.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATIONInventors: Takuya Kusakawa, Masaaki Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20220206683Abstract: Implementations of the subject matter described herein provide a keyboard and an electronic device. The keyboard comprises a touch-sensitive region configured to send an indication of a position of a touch to the electronic device. The electronic device may display a menu including a plurality of configurable menu items. A shape of the menu matches a shape of the touch-sensitive region, and the menu item corresponding to the touch position may be highlighted, such that the user may acknowledge the touch position without looking at the keyboard. In this case, input efficiency may be improved in case of selecting menu items, since the user does not need to divert its sight from the display to the keyboard or the pointing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2019Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Masaaki FUKUMOTO, Paul KOS, Nicolas SCHMITT, Go OSAKI, Kelong ZHAO, Chun Lai ZHANG, Chunde LIU, Hao ZHUANG, Shuling CHEN, Yu YU, Qing FENG
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Publication number: 20220155874Abstract: Embodiments of the subject matter described herein provide a wearable device enabling multi-finger gestures. The wearable device generally includes a first sensor, a second sensor and a controller. The first sensor can detect a first set of one or more movements of a first finger of a user. The second sensor can detect a second set of one or more movements of a second finger that is different from the first finger. The controller is configured to detect a multi-finger gesture by determining a relative movement between the first finger and the second finger based on the first and second sets of movements and to control a terminal device in association with the wearable devices based on the multi-finger gesture.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2022Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Haichao ZHU, Masaaki FUKUMOTO
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Publication number: 20220102772Abstract: A battery-powered portable tool includes: a battery pack containing at least one all-solid-state battery cell; a tool main body, on which and/or inside which the battery pack is mountable and from which the battery pack is demountable; and a plurality of components contained in the battery pack and/or in the tool main body. The plurality of components is disposed in a first layout or physical configuration when the temperature is low and is disposed in a second layout or physical configuration when the temperature is high. The first layout or physical configuration differs from the second layout or physical configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Inventors: Hitoshi SUZUKI, Masaaki Fukumoto
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Patent number: 11270717Abstract: Noise reduction in a robot system includes the use of a gesture library that pairs noise profiles with gestures performed by the robot. A gesture to be performed by the robot is obtained, and the robot performs the gesture. The robot's performance of the gesture creates noise, and when a user speaks to the robot while the robot performs a gesture, incoming audio includes both user audio and robot noise. A noise profile associated with the gesture is retrieved from the gesture library and is applied to remove the robot noise from the incoming audio.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology licensing, LLCInventors: Katsushi Ikeuchi, Masaaki Fukumoto, Johnny H. Lee, Jordan Lee Kravitz, David William Baumert
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Publication number: 20220050531Abstract: A keyboard (110) comprises a base board (116), keys (112), pitfalls (120) and a mode control mechanism (118). The keys (112) include cups (1124), and the mode control mechanism (118) may switch the keyboard (110) especially the key cups (1124) between different modes. In case that the keyboard (110) is not in use, these cups (1124) can be received in the pitfalls (120) to reduce the profile of the keyboard (110). In case that the keyboard (110) is to be used, the keys (112) may be raised up and arranged on the base board (116) in order to enable long keystroke and provide good typing experience.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2021Publication date: February 17, 2022Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Masaaki FUKUMOTO
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Patent number: 11237640Abstract: Embodiments of the subject matter described herein provide a wearable device enabling multi-finger gestures. The wearable device generally includes a first sensor, a second sensor and a controller. The first sensor can detect a first set of one or more movements of a first finger of a user. The second sensor can detect a second set of one or more movements of a second finger that is different from the first finger. The controller is configured to detect a multi-finger gesture by determining a relative movement between the first finger and the second finger based on the first and second sets of movements and to control a terminal device in association with the wearable devices based on the multi-finger gesture.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Haichao Zhu, Masaaki Fukumoto
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Patent number: 11233282Abstract: A battery-powered portable tool (1) and/or a battery pack (174; 174?) connected thereto contain(s) a high-temperature measurement circuit (61, 62, 64; 64-67), a low-temperature measurement circuit (61, 64; 64-66), and a switching apparatus (63; Q 1, Q 2) for selecting and/or outputting a signal from (i) the low-temperature measurement circuit when an output value of the high-temperature measurement circuit enters an abnormal range or (ii) the high-temperature measurement circuit when an output value of the low-temperature measurement circuit enters an abnormal range, which are powered by at least one all-solid-state battery (12, 14, 16, 18) provided in the battery pack. Such an arrangement makes it possible to efficiently make use of the at least one all-solid-state battery that is usable over a wide temperature range, whereby the battery-powered tool becomes usable over a wider temperature range than known battery-powered tools.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATIONInventors: Hitoshi Suzuki, Masaaki Fukumoto
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Publication number: 20210375124Abstract: A communication device in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a storage, a first wireless communication circuit, an information obtaining circuit, and a storing processing circuit. The first wireless communication circuit receives first information through an antenna. The first information is wirelessly transmitted from a first transmission device. The first information corresponds to the first transmission device. The first transmission device is configured to be connected to an electric work machine or is connected to the electric work machine. The information obtaining circuit obtains the first information through the first wireless communication circuit in response to a first event being occurred or having occurred. The storing processing circuit stores the first information from the information obtaining circuit into a storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: MAKITA CORPORATIONInventors: Masaaki FUKUMOTO, Hiroshi INOUE
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Publication number: 20210367435Abstract: A power tool includes a power tool housing accommodating a motor; a battery pack interface electrically connected to the motor and being configured to be physically and electrically connected to and disconnected from a power tool interface of a battery pack; and a wireless communicator configured to be attached to or detached from the power tool housing. The wireless communicator wirelessly transmits data between the power tool and an external device using radio waves. In addition, the power tool housing includes a receptacle opening configured to accommodate the wireless communicator within the power tool housing such that no part of the wireless communicator projects or protrudes beyond an outer surface or contour of the power tool housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2021Publication date: November 25, 2021Inventors: Nobuyasu FURUI, Hitoshi SUZUKI, Masaaki Fukumoto, Takuya UMEMURA, Kosuke ITO, Hitoshi Sengiku, Shuji Yoshikawa, Tatsuya NAGAHAMA
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Publication number: 20210337293Abstract: Implementations of the subject matter described herein provide a silent voice input solution without being noticed by surroundings. Compared with conventional voice input solutions which are based on normal speech or whispering, the proposed “silent” voice input method is performed by using ingressive voice during the user's breathing-in process. By placing the apparatus very close to the user's mouth with a ultra-small gap formed between the microphone and the apparatus, the proposed silent voice input solution can realize a very small voice leakage, and thereby allowing the user to use ultra-low voice speech input in public and mobile situations, without disturbing surrounding people.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2021Publication date: October 28, 2021Applicant: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventor: Masaaki FUKUMOTO
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Patent number: 11137833Abstract: A keyboard (110) includes a base board (116), keys (112), pitfalls (120) and a mode control mechanism (118). The keys (112) include cups (1124), and the mode control mechanism (118) may switch the keyboard (110) especially the key cups (1124) between different modes. In case that the keyboard (110) is not in use, these cups (1124) can be received in the pitfalls (120) to reduce the profile of the keyboard (110). In case that the keyboard (110) is to be used, the keys (112) may be raised up and arranged on the base board (116) in order to enable long keystroke and provide good typing experience.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2020Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventor: Masaaki Fukumoto