Patents by Inventor Masahiro Kurahashi

Masahiro Kurahashi 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: 8689032
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus capable of installing a plurality of storage units includes a first supply unit configured to supply electric power to the plurality of storage units, a second supply unit configured to supply electric power to the plurality of storage units, when the first supply unit stops supplying electric power to the plurality of storage units, a charging unit configured to charge the second supply unit, a measurement unit configured to measure a time during which the second supply unit supplies electric power to the plurality of storage units, a detection unit configured to detect a number of the storage units installed on the information processing apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine a time during which the second supply unit should be charged, based on the time which has been measured by the measurement unit and the number of units which has been detected by the detection unit, and a control unit configured to perform control that the charging unit charges the s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 8687214
    Abstract: Provided are an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus and a mobile terminal, and a control method of controlling the image forming apparatus. Wireless communication is enabled between the mobile terminal and the image forming apparatus owing to receipt of print data and account information, which is for placing the image forming apparatus in a state in which wireless communication is possible, from the information processing apparatus. After wireless communication is enabled, the image forming apparatus receives authentication information from the mobile terminal and, if this authentication information corresponds to the account information, start printing based upon the print data received from the information processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Publication number: 20140019787
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus which makes it possible to reduce the number of times of charge and discharge to and from a battery. An apparatus power supply supplies power to a RAM. A secondary battery supplies power to the RAM when power supply to the RAM by the apparatus power supply is stopped. In a case where power supply to the RAM by the apparatus power supply is stopped neither at a preset time nor after lapse of a predetermined time period, a CPU controls so that power supply to the RAM is executed by the secondary battery, and, in a case where power supply to the RAM by the apparatus power supply is stopped at the preset time or after lapse of the predetermined time period, the CPU does not control so that power supply to the load is executed by the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 8503003
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine an abnormal state of the image forming apparatus, a storage unit configured to store information indicating a state of the image forming apparatus, and a plurality of output units configured to output the stored information by different output methods. The image forming apparatus also includes a display unit configured to display information regarding each of the plurality of output units, and a selection unit configured to select an output unit designated by a user using the displayed information. The image forming apparatus outputs the stored information using the selected output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 8433046
    Abstract: A line control apparatus having a first interface for connecting to a telephone line, a second interface for connecting to a facsimile apparatus, and a third interface for connecting to a telephone, includes: a first detecting unit that detects a calling signal transmitted from the telephone line and a second detecting unit configured to detect a signal from the telephone line, such signal having a voltage lower than a voltage that the first detecting unit can detect. In accordance with the second detecting unit having detected a signal from the telephone line, the control unit switches from a state wherein the first interface and the third interface are connected to a state of not being connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 8395814
    Abstract: A terminal apparatus that can identify contents of work conducted to repair an image forming apparatus with its power supply turned off. A terminal apparatus can communicate with the image forming apparatus. An obtaining unit obtains information related to an error occurred in the image forming apparatus. A display unit displays work required to cancel the error. An input unit causes a user to selectively input contents of work. A control unit stores the contents of work selectively inputted through the input unit in a storage unit when the terminal apparatus stops communicating with the image forming apparatus and transmits the contents of work stored in the storage unit to the image forming apparatus when the terminal apparatus starts communicating with the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Publication number: 20120033245
    Abstract: Provided are an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus and a mobile terminal, and a control method of controlling the image forming apparatus. Wireless communication is enabled between the mobile terminal and the image forming apparatus owing to receipt of print data and account information, which is for placing the image forming apparatus in a state in which wireless communication is possible, from the information processing apparatus. After wireless communication is enabled, the image forming apparatus receives authentication information from the mobile terminal and, if this authentication information corresponds to the account information, start printing based upon the print data received from the information processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Publication number: 20110314319
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus capable of installing a plurality of storage units includes a first supply unit configured to supply electric power to the plurality of storage units, a second supply unit configured to supply electric power to the plurality of storage units, when the first supply unit stops supplying electric power to the plurality of storage units, a charging unit configured to charge the second supply unit, a measurement unit configured to measure a time during which the second supply unit supplies electric power to the plurality of storage units, a detection unit configured to detect a number of the storage units installed on the information processing apparatus, a determination unit configured to determine a time during which the second supply unit should be charged, based on the time which has been measured by the measurement unit and the number of units which has been detected by the detection unit, and a control unit configured to perform control that the charging unit charges the s
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 8068237
    Abstract: A reading sensor has first and second detection regions. The first detection region has high directivity and detects a thickness of a recording sheet. The second detection region has low directivity and detects a surface roughness of the recording sheet. The material type of the recording sheet is determined based on the detected thickness and surface roughness. Based on the type of recording sheet, conditions for forming images on the recording sheet are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 8040535
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that can reduce the burden placed on the user by avoiding input errors and a complicated input operation when making settings for a color/black-and-white mixing operation and can perform a proper recovery even when a sheet determined to be abnormal is included in other sheets. Images are formed on sheets by an MFP 104 in accordance with an image forming job. The sheets on which the images have been formed are conveyed to a stacker tray 1207 detachably attached to the MFP 104. Information relating to the image forming job for the sheets conveyed to the stacker tray 1207 is written into a storage device 1202 provided in the stacker tray 1207.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kurahashi, Keizo Isemura
  • Publication number: 20090316174
    Abstract: A terminal apparatus that can identify contents of work conducted to repair an image forming apparatus with its power supply turned off. A terminal apparatus can communicate with the image forming apparatus. An obtaining unit obtains information related to an error occurred in the image forming apparatus. A display unit displays work required to cancel the error. An input unit causes a user to selectively input contents of work. A control unit stores the contents of work selectively inputted through the input unit in a storage unit when the terminal apparatus stops communicating with the image forming apparatus and transmits the contents of work stored in the storage unit to the image forming apparatus when the terminal apparatus starts communicating with the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Publication number: 20090237741
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine an abnormal state of the image forming apparatus, a storage unit configured to store information indicating a state of the image forming apparatus, and a plurality of output units configured to output the stored information by different output methods. The image forming apparatus also includes a display unit configured to display information regarding each of the plurality of output units, and a selection unit configured to select an output unit designated by a user using the displayed information. The image forming apparatus outputs the stored information using the selected output unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Publication number: 20090180143
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that can reduce the burden placed on the user by avoiding input errors and a complicated input operation when making settings for a color/black-and-white mixing operation and can perform a proper recovery even when a sheet determined to be abnormal is included in other sheets. Images are formed on sheets by an MFP 104 in accordance with an image forming job. The sheets on which the images have been formed are conveyed to a stacker tray 1207 detachably attached to the MFP 104. Information relating to the image forming job for the sheets conveyed to the stacker tray 1207 is written into a storage device 1202 provided in the stacker tray 1207.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro KURAHASHI, Keizo ISEMURA
  • Publication number: 20090154673
    Abstract: A line control apparatus having a first interface for connecting to a telephone line, a second interface for connecting to a facsimile apparatus, and a third interface for connecting to a telephone, includes: a first detecting unit that detects a calling signal transmitted from the telephone line and a second detecting unit configured to detect a signal from the telephone line, such signal having a voltage lower than a voltage that the first detecting unit can detect. In accordance with the second detecting unit having detected a signal from the telephone line, the control unit switches from a state wherein the first interface and the third interface are connected to a state of not being connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 7296791
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that is capable of preventing input errors and eliminating the necessity of complicated input operations in making settings for a sheet mixing operation in which color image output sheets and black-and-white image output sheets are mixed into one group. A stacker tray stores sheets with color images formed thereon by a color MFP and is equipped with a storage device, into and from which information relating to the sheets can be written and read. A black-and-white MFP operates in response to attachment of the stacker tray to an inserter attached to the black-and-white MFP, to execute an image formation job by providing control such that the sheets with color images formed thereon stored in the stacker tray and sheets with black-and-white images formed thereon by the black-and-white MFP are mixed according to the information stored in the storage device of the stacker tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kurahashi, Katsuaki Hirai, Norifumi Miyake, Keizo Isemura, Yuji Yamanaka, Naoto Watanabe, Tsuyoshi Moriyama, Hideki Kushida
  • Patent number: 7103442
    Abstract: A CPU for a motor driving apparatus of an image forming apparatus excites a predetermined phase winding among plural phases of a stepping motor for a predetermined time period. Thereafter, before a rotation of the motor is started, it is judged whether there is the possibility of deviating a positional relationship between a rotor and a stator of the motor from a positional relationship determined by the excitation of the predetermined phase winding for the predetermined time period, by an external force, on the basis of judgement whether a door is opened for jam treatment. If the possibility of deviation is judged, the predetermined phase winding among plural phases of the stepping motor is excited again for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Fukushi, Kazuki Miyamoto, Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Patent number: 7092654
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which can output a job with a higher priority level in a timely manner without processing other jobs first, when a container has been attached to the image forming apparatus. Images on sheets are formed in accordance with an image forming job by a color MFP 104. The sheets on which the images have been formed is conveyed to a stacker tray 1207 detachably attached to an inserter 108 attached to the black-and-white MFP 105. Storage of the sheets on which the images have been formed in the stacker tray 1207 is controlled to selectively inhibit or allow the storage according to the priority level of the image forming job by a CPU 1805 of the color MFP 104.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kurahashi, Keizo Isemura
  • Publication number: 20050280687
    Abstract: A reading sensor has first and second detection regions. The first detection region has high directivity and detects a thickness of a recording sheet. The second detection region has low directivity and detects a surface roughness of the recording sheet. The material type of the recording sheet is determined based on the detected thickness and surface roughness. Based on the type of recording sheet, conditions for forming images on the recording sheet are determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kurahashi
  • Publication number: 20050180771
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which can output a job with a higher priority level in a timely manner without processing other jobs first, when a container has been attached to the image forming apparatus. Images on sheets are formed in accordance with an image forming job by a color MFP 104. The sheets on which the images have been formed is conveyed to a stacker tray 1207 detachably attached to an inserter 108 attached to the black-and-white MFP 105. Storage of the sheets on which the images have been formed in the stacker tray 1207 is controlled to selectively inhibit or allow the storage according to the priority level of the image forming job by a CPU 1805 of the color MFP 104.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kurahashi, Keizo Isemura
  • Patent number: 6876825
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which can output a job with a higher priority level in a timely manner without processing other jobs first, when a container has been attached to the image forming apparatus. Images on sheets are formed in accordance with an image forming job by a color MFP 104. The sheets on which the images have been formed is conveyed to a stacker tray 1207 detachably attached to an inserter 108 attached to the black-and-white MFP 105. Storage of the sheets on which the images have been formed in the stacker tray 1207 is controlled to selectively inhibit or allow the storage according to the priority level of the image forming job by a CPU 1805 of the color MFP 104.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Kurahashi, Keizo Isemura