Patents by Inventor Masahiro Kitamura

Masahiro Kitamura 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: 10409334
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a keyboard device having high versatility and high waterproof performance and an electronic device having the keyboard device. A keyboard device has a base plate having a plurality of attachment holes through which a plurality of hook members provided in a body chassis of an electronic device can be passed or with which the plurality of hook members can be engaged in the lower surface, a reflection sheet, which is a sheet-like member covering the lower surface of the base plate, and a plurality of keytops provided on the upper surface of the base plate, in which the reflection sheet is provided with cut lines cut in the thickness direction at positions overlapping with the attachment holes in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kitamura, Mitsuo Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 10401920
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic apparatus has a board plate provided in a position apart from the operating direction of push buttons for receiving depressing operations. Detection switches for detecting the depressing operations of the push buttons are provided on the lower surface side of the board plate, and the push buttons are provided adjacent to the side part of the board plate and includes a vertically-movable operation surface part for receiving depressing operations and a detection arm, which protrudes from one edge part of the operation surface part to the lower surface side of the board plate and presses the detection switches by moving in the opposite direction to the direction of the vertical movement of the operation surface part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Masahiro Kitamura, Mitsuo Horiuchi, Eiji Shinohara
  • Patent number: 10394380
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing malfunctions of a touchpad disposed near an antenna is provided. An NFC coil is disposed underneath a touchpad. In NFC, an NFC card approaches the surface of the touchpad. A touch controller sets the detection sensitivity of a finger to a reference value when an NFC module does not emit alternating magnetic fluxes. The touch controller reduces the detection sensitivity at the timing when the NFC coil starts the emission of the alternating magnetic fluxes. The touch controller returns the detection sensitivity to the reference value at the timing when the NFC coil stops the emission of the alternating magnetic fluxes. The NFC module directly transmits a signal with which the touch controller changes the detection sensitivity to the touch controller through a hardware line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Hideto Horikoshi, Hidekazu Chujo, Masahiro Kitamura, Mitsuo Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 10353437
    Abstract: A coupled structure is capable of suppressing breakage of a hook member and keeping the coupled state between members. An electronic device includes the coupled structure. A coupled structure is a keyboard unit coupled to a main body chassis. The coupled structure includes an engagement hole on the keyboard unit and a hook member that protrudes from an upper face of a support plate on the main body chassis and can be engaged with the engagement hole. The support plate has a plate spring capable of elastic displacement with respect to a peripheral part. The hook member is on the plate spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kitamura, Mitsuo Horiuchi, Satoshi Douzono
  • Patent number: 10329411
    Abstract: A resin composition, containing: (A) polyolefin; (B) a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having an ethylene content of from 20 to 65 mol % and a degree of saponification of vinyl acetate units of 96% or more; (C) a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer having an ethylene content of from 68 to 98 mol % and a degree of saponification of vinyl acetate units of 20% or more; (D) a random copolymer consisting of ethylene and vinyl acetate; (E) a pigment comprising titanium oxide particles comprising a surface coated with a compound of a metal other than titanium or a silicon compound; and (I) a lubricant; wherein a mass ratio (AB) is from 3 to 99.5, a mass ratio (B/C) is from 1 to 100, a mass ratio of (D/C) is from 0.1 to 15, a mass ratio (E/C) is from 0.04 to 50, and a content of (C) is from 0.01 to 2.4 parts, particularly 0.33 to 1.5 parts, by mass based on 100 parts by mass of (A) and (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyuki Igarashi, Yasuhiko Haneda, Masahiro Kitamura, Shinji Tai
  • Patent number: 10180739
    Abstract: An input device having sufficient countermeasure against static electricity is disclosed. The input device includes a touch pad as an operation-input part that is movably supported above a metal base plate. The operation-input part includes a pad plate to receive an input operation, a board plate stacked below the pad plate to detect an input operation to the pad plate, and a resin housing plate stacked below the board plate. The base plate has an upper face, on which a protruding piece is disposed so as to be inserted between the board plate and the housing plate and come into contact with a ground line as a conductive part provided at the board plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Masahiro Kitamura, Mitsuo Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20180373355
    Abstract: A touchpad has a pad plate which is less expensive and has better surface feeling and oil resistance than a glass pad plate and a method for manufacturing the same. The touchpad has a resin base portion having electrical insulation properties, a photocurable resin layer laminated so as to cover the top of the base portion, and an anti-finger film laminated so as to cover the top of the photocurable resin layer, in which the anti-finger film is a touch operation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Sugisawa, Masahiro Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20180364765
    Abstract: A keyboard device is provided. The keyboard device includes a baseplate, a set of keytops, a frame, and a set of plate members. The set of keytops is supported in a vertically movable manner on an upper surface side of the baseplate. The frame mounted on the upper surface side of the baseplate, and the frame includes a set of openings in which the keytops are inserted in a vertically movable manner. The set of plate members arranged along a longer direction within the baseplate, and bridges that connect adjacent plate members. The adjacent plate members are arranged with a gap provided between end surfaces thereof that, oppose each other and are relatively movable through at least the bridges in a direction in which the plate members are arranged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Masahiro Kitamura, Mitsuo Horiuchi, Satoshi Douzono
  • Publication number: 20180345643
    Abstract: The present disclosure is aimed at providing a laminated film for decorating a three-dimensional molded product with which problems on a split, white turbidity and the like in the laminated film for decorating a three-dimensional molded product having a metallic tone design layer can be improved and an outer film having excellent characteristics with regard to scratch resistance, hardness, chemical resistance, and the like on the surface of the film after decorating can be formed. A laminated film for decorating a three-dimensional molded product, having an adhesion layer (A), a metallic tone design layer (B) constituted of a coating film layer (B-1) containing vapor-deposited aluminum or a vapor-deposited metal layer (B-2) composed of indium or tin, a clear coating film layer (C) composed of an energy ray-curable coating film, and a base material film layer (D).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: NIPPON PAINT AUTOMOTIVE COATINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takakazu HASE, Masahiro KITAMURA
  • Patent number: 10096441
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus having a switch device capable of suppressing collision noise is disclosed. The switch device is equipped with a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact, and a metal dome that serves as a movable contact movable in a direction to be contacted with or separated from the first fixed contact. In a configuration in which the metal dome is moved to provide an electrical contact or a separation between the metal dome and the first fixed contact, whereby the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact are electrically connected therebetween, a conductive layer made of an anisotropic conductive sheet is provided between the first fixed contact and the metal dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Masahiro Kitamura, Takane Fujino, Mitsuo Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 9958907
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus having an input device is disclosed. The input device is capable of reducing the sound generated when an operation-input part returns to its original position after being pressed. The input device includes a base plate having a hook standing towards the operation-input part. The operation-input part has an arm member that can come into contact with the hook. A contact of the arm member with the hook specifies an ascending limit of the operation-input part, and at least one of the arm member and the hook has elasticity in their contacting direction to reduce rebound sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
    Inventors: Masahiro Kitamura, Mitsuo Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20180096804
    Abstract: A switching device capable of receiving pressing operations for an electronic device is provided. The switching device includes a push button rotatably supported on an upper surface of a base member, and a detection switch that is pressed when the push button is pressed to rotate. Either the push button or the base member includes an engaging part and an elastic part, while the other one of the push button or the base member includes a rotational shaft with which the engaging part is rotatably engaged and a supporting shaft against which the elastic part is pressed. The push button rotates about an engaged portion between the engaging part and the rotational shaft with the elastic part being pressed against the supporting shaft, and presses the detection switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: MASAHIRO KITAMURA, MITSUO HORIUCHI, SATOSHI DOUZONO
  • Publication number: 20180029289
    Abstract: The present disclosure is to provide a laminated film for decorating a three-dimensional molded product by vacuum forming which has a crack and strain-free uneven design on the clear coating film layer being an outermost layer at the time of use and provide a good design property to a molded product. A laminated film for decorating a three-dimensional molded product by vacuum forming, having a base material film layer (A), a clear coating film layer (B), and a design layer (C), wherein at least one face of the base material film layer (A) bordering the clear coating film layer (B) has an uneven design.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: NIPPON PAINT AUTOMOTIVE COATINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takakazu HASE, Masahiro KITAMURA
  • Publication number: 20170371491
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing malfunctions of a touchpad disposed near an antenna is provided. An NFC coil is disposed underneath a touchpad. In NFC, an NFC card approaches the surface of the touchpad. A touch controller sets the detection sensitivity of a finger to a reference value when an NFC module does not emit alternating magnetic fluxes. The touch controller reduces the detection sensitivity at the timing when the NFC coil starts the emission of the alternating magnetic fluxes. The touch controller returns the detection sensitivity to the reference value at the timing when the NFC coil stops the emission of the alternating magnetic fluxes. The NFC module directly transmits a signal with which the touch controller changes the detection sensitivity to the touch controller through a hardware line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: HIDETO HORIKOSHI, HIDEKAZU CHUJO, MASAHIRO KITAMURA, MITSUO HORIUCHI
  • Publication number: 20170140883
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus having a switch device capable of suppressing collision noise is disclosed. The switch device is equipped with a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact, and a metal dome that serves as a movable contact movable in a direction to be contacted with or separated from the first fixed contact. In a configuration in which the metal dome is moved to provide an electrical contact or a separation between the metal dome and the first fixed contact, whereby the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact are electrically connected therebetween, a conductive layer made of an anisotropie conductive sheet is provided between the first fixed contact and the metal dome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: MASAHIRO KITAMURA, TAKANE FUJINO, MITSUO HORIUCHI
  • Publication number: 20170024029
    Abstract: An input device having sufficient countermeasure against static electricity is disclosed. The input device includes a touch pad as an operation-input part that is movably supported above a metal base plate. The operation-input part includes a pad plate to receive an input operation, a board plate stacked below the pad plate to detect an input operation to the pad plate, and a resin housing plate stacked below the board plate. The base plate has an upper face, on which a protruding piece is disposed so as to be inserted between the board plate and the housing plate and come into contact with a ground line as a conductive part provided at the board plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Masahiro Kitamura, Mitsuo Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20170017266
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus having an input device is disclosed. The input device is capable of reducing the sound generated when an operation-input part returns to its original position after being pressed. The input device includes a base plate having a hook standing towards the operation-input part. The operation-input part has an arm member that can come into contact with the hook. A contact of the arm member with the hook specifies a ascending limit of the operation-input part, and at least one of the arm member and the hook has elasticity in their contacting direction to reduce rebound sound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: Masahiro KITAMURA, Mitsuo HORIUCHI
  • Publication number: 20170017267
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic apparatus has a board plate provided in a position apart from the operating direction of push buttons for receiving depressing operations. Detection switches for detecting the depressing operations of the push buttons are provided on the lower surface side of the board plate, and the push buttons are provided adjacent to the side part of the board plate and includes a vertically-movable operation surface part for receiving depressing operations and a detection arm, which protrudes from one edge part of the operation surface part to the lower surface side of the board plate and presses the detection switches by moving in the opposite direction to the direction of the vertical movement of the operation surface part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventors: MASAHIRO KITAMURA, MITSUO HORIUCHI, EIJI SHINOHARA
  • Patent number: 9457545
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a multilayered structure, comprising the steps of: obtaining a regrind (C) by grinding a multilayered structure (B) having a layer of a resin composition (A), followed by sieving; and obtaining a multilayered structure (F) having a layer of a resin composition (E) made by melt kneading the regrind (C) and a polyolefin (D), wherein the resin composition (A) contains a polyolefin (G), a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (H) having an ethylene content of from 20 to 65 mol % and having a degree of saponification of vinyl acetate units of 96% or more, a saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (I) having an ethylene content of from 68 to 98 mol % and having a degree of saponification of vinyl acetate units of 20% or more, and an antistatic agent (J), and a mass ratio (H/I) is from 0.1 to 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeyuki Igarashi, Yasuhiko Haneda, Masahiro Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9174610
    Abstract: A wiper blade includes a wiper strip, a backing, a blade holder coupled to the wiper arm, and two opposed cases arranged at two longitudinal ends of the blade holder. The blade holder includes a blade holding portion, which surrounds a base portion of the wiper strip and the backing at a longitudinally central portion of the wiper strip and the backing. The blade holding portion restricts movement of the wiper strip and the backing in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. Each case includes a case holding portion that surrounds the base portion of the wiper strip and the backing. The case holding portion restricts movement of the wiper strip and the backing in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Yoshimoto, Naoki Torii, Masahiro Oota, Masahiro Kitamura