Patents by Inventor Masaho Morita

Masaho Morita 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: 20240082702
    Abstract: An input device includes: a plurality of input members; an upper surface having a right region in which a part of the plurality of input members is disposed, a left region in which another part of the plurality of input members is disposed, and a center region that is a region between the right region and the left region; and a light emitting region formed along an outer edge of the center region. The light emitting region includes a first light emitting portion configured to indicate identification information assigned to a plurality of input devices connected to an information processing apparatus, and a second light emitting portion configured to emit light based on information different from the identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Ikuo KOBAYASHI, Takeshi IGARASHI, Masaho MORITA, Kazuyuki SUZUKI, Akinori ITO
  • Publication number: 20240058692
    Abstract: An exterior member for an input device includes: a housing having an upper surface on which one or more operation members for manipulation by a user are arranged, and a middle portion located between right and left portions, respectively of the housing; a first sound hole extending from an exterior, through the exterior member, to an interior of the housing, the first sound hole allowing sound to propagate to a first location within the housing; a second sound hole extending from the exterior, through the exterior member, to the interior of the housing, the second sound hole allowing sound to propagate to a second location within the housing, wherein a position of the first sound hole and a position of the second sound hole are separated in at least one of the front-rear direction and an up-down direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Masaho Morita, Hiromasu Kaburaki
  • Patent number: 11878235
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an input device including: a plurality of input members; an upper surface having a right region in which a part of the plurality of input members is disposed, a left region in which another part of the plurality of input members is disposed, and a center region that is a region between the right region and the left region; and a light emitting region formed along an outer edge of the center region. The light emitting region includes a first light emitting portion configured to indicate identification information assigned to a plurality of input devices connected to an information processing apparatus, and a second light emitting portion configured to emit light based on information different from the identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Ikuo Kobayashi, Takeshi Igarashi, Masaho Morita, Kazuyuki Suzuki, Akinori Ito
  • Patent number: 11839808
    Abstract: An influence of hands holding an input device or fingers manipulating operation members on sound collection by a microphone is reduced. An input device (10) has a right held portion (10R) that has an upper surface on which an operation button (11) to be operated by a finger in the right hand is disposed, a left held portion (10L) that has an upper surface on which a direction key (12) to be operated by a finger in the left hand is disposed, and a middle portion (10M) positioned between the right held portion (10R) and the left held portion (10L). A first microphone (21) and a second microphone (22) are arranged in the middle portion (10M). The first microphone (21) is positioned rearward of a center of the middle portion (10M) in a front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Masaho Morita, Hiromasu Kaburaki
  • Patent number: 11806614
    Abstract: A manipulation input device includes: a manipulation button having a support rotatable about a rotation center line when a side of the manipulation button is pushed by a user in a push direction, and having a contact portion on an opposite side to the side pushed by the user; an actuator having a support rotatable about the rotation center line, and having a post that engages the contact portion and applies a force to the manipulation button in an opposite direction to the push direction; and a rack disposed on the actuator, which includes teeth located along an arc at a radial distance from the center line, where the teeth and engaged by and receive controlled drive from a rotating drive gear, thereby controlling the rotation of the actuator about the rotation center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Kawashima, Ryo Fukikoshi, Masaho Morita
  • Patent number: 11779834
    Abstract: In order to reduce influences of light from indoor lighting equipment or the like on the accuracy in detecting the position of an operating device, an operating device (301) includes: left and right hold sections to be held by a user, each of which is provided with an operating member at an upper surface thereof; a central section (321) which is a section between the left and right hold sections; and a light emitting surface (328c) adapted to emit light to be captured by an information processing apparatus through a camera, the light emitting surface (328c) provided at a front surface of the central section (321). The central section (321) includes a portion which is located over the light emitting surface (328c) and is located on a more forward side than the light emitting surface (328c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Igarashi, Masaho Morita, Kazuyoshi Enomoto, Toshimasa Aoki
  • Publication number: 20230293982
    Abstract: In order to reduce influences of light from indoor lighting equipment or the like on the accuracy in detecting the position of an operating device, an operating device (301) includes: left and right hold sections to be held by a user, each of which is provided with an operating member at an upper surface thereof; a central section (321) which is a section between the left and right hold sections; and a light emitting surface (328c) adapted to emit light to be captured by an information processing apparatus through a camera, the light emitting surface (328c) provided at a front surface of the central section (321). The central section (321) includes a portion which is located over the light emitting surface (328c) and is located on a more forward side than the light emitting surface (328c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Takeshi IGARASHI, Masaho MORITA, Kazuyoshi ENOMOTO, Toshimasa AOKI
  • Publication number: 20230173378
    Abstract: Noise is prevented from occurring in voice data acquired by a microphone due to an operation of an input stick. An input device (10) includes an upper cabinet section (41) having an opening formed therein, an input button (35) that is positioned inside the opening and is movable in an upward-downward direction, an elastic member that biases the input button (35) toward an initial position of the input button (35), and a buffer member (37). The input button (35) has a stopped portion (35b, 35c) for preventing the input button (35) from popping out of the opening. The buffer member (37) is made of a material different from a material of the upper cabinet section (41) and from a material of the input button (35) and has a stopper portion (37a, 37b) positioned between an inner edge of the opening of the upper cabinet section (51) and the stopped portion (35b, 35c) of the input button (35).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Masaho MORITA, Kenji KAWASHIMA
  • Patent number: 11660527
    Abstract: An input device that enables various operations is proposed. A plurality of operating buttons (11) and direction keys (12) are arranged in an upper surface (17g). Lower surface buttons (31R, 31L) are arranged in a lower surface (17a). The lower surface buttons (31R, 31L) project downward from the lower surface (17a), have pressing target surfaces (31a) to be pressed by a finger of a user, and are arranged such that the pressing target surfaces (31a) are inclined with respect to a front edge (10a) of the input device (1). The lower surface buttons (31R, 31L) can be moved when the pressing target surfaces (31a) are pressed in a button rearward direction as a direction along the lower surface (17a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Masaho Morita, Taichi Nokuo
  • Patent number: 11641723
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an input device including: a cabinet including an upper cabinet section and a lower cabinet section that are combined in an upward-downward direction; at least one fixture fixing the upper cabinet section to the lower cabinet section; and a cover attached to an exterior surface of the cabinet to cover the at least one fixture. The exterior surface of the cabinet has an exposed region adjacent to the cover and not covered by the cover. A step is formed between the exposed region of the exterior surface of the cabinet and an exterior surface of the cover, so that the exterior surface of the cover is recessed with respect to the exposed region of the exterior surface of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Ikuo Kobayashi, Masaho Morita, Ryu Sannomiya
  • Publication number: 20230130381
    Abstract: When a vibration motor is driven, noise due to a contact between a circuit board and a support member is prevented from being generated and included in voice data. An input device includes a circuit board, a vibration motor, a microphone, a frame to which the circuit board is attached, and a damper disposed between the circuit board and the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Masaho MORITA, Takeshi IGARASHI
  • Publication number: 20230126086
    Abstract: The conspicuity of a light emitting surface provided along an outer edge of an input member is enhanced. An input device (10) includes an upper cabinet section (41) having an opening formed therein, an input member (20) that has an upper surface to be touched by a user with a finger and that is disposed inside the opening, and a light diffusing member (71) having a light emitting surface (E2) located along an outer edge of the input member (20). The light emitting surface (E2) has a first region (71g) exposed in a gap between an inner edge of the opening of the upper cabinet section (41) and an outer edge of the input member (20) and a second region (71h) positioned on an inner side of the outer edge of the input member (20) and below a peripheral portion (21a) of the input member (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki SUZUKI, Masaho MORITA
  • Publication number: 20230096335
    Abstract: Noise is prevented from occurring in voice data acquired by a microphone due to an operation of an input stick. An input device (10) includes an upper cabinet section (41) having an opening formed therein, an input stick (31) movable inside the opening, and a buffer member (46) that is provided on an inner edge of the opening of the upper cabinet section (41) and is made of a material different from a material of the inner edge of the opening and from a material of an outer peripheral surface of the input stick (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Masaho MORITA, Ryu SANNOMIYA
  • Publication number: 20230087998
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an input device including: a plurality of input members; an upper surface having a right region in which a part of the plurality of input members is disposed, a left region in which another part of the plurality of input members is disposed, and a center region that is a region between the right region and the left region; and a light emitting region formed along an outer edge of the center region. The light emitting region includes a first light emitting portion configured to indicate identification information assigned to a plurality of input devices connected to an information processing apparatus, and a second light emitting portion configured to emit light based on information different from the identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Ikuo KOBAYASHI, Takeshi IGARASHI, Masaho MORITA, Kazuyuki SUZUKI, Akinori ITO
  • Patent number: 11554319
    Abstract: An operation pad (20) has an exterior plate (21) having a light-emitting unit (E1) and a touch sensor substrate (22) attached to the rear surface of the exterior plate (21). In addition, the operation pad (20) has a light source (S1) attached to the rear surface thereof and a light diffusion member (H1) that is an optical path through which light of the light source (S1) passes toward the light-emitting unit (E1). According to the structure, the structure for allowing the light-emitting unit provided on the operation pad to shine can be downsized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Masaho Morita, Kazuyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11534682
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an input device including: a plurality of input members; an upper surface having a right region in which a part of the plurality of input members is disposed, a left region in which another part of the plurality of input members is disposed, and a center region that is a region between the right region and the left region; and a light emitting region formed along an outer edge of the center region. The light emitting region includes a first light emitting portion configured to indicate identification information assigned to a plurality of input devices connected to an information processing apparatus, and a second light emitting portion configured to emit light based on information different from the identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Ikuo Kobayashi, Takeshi Igarashi, Masaho Morita, Kazuyuki Suzuki, Akinori Ito
  • Publication number: 20220401828
    Abstract: A manipulation input device includes: a manipulation button having a support rotatable about a rotation center line when a side of the manipulation button is pushed by a user in a push direction, and having a contact portion on an opposite side to the side pushed by the user; an actuator having a support rotatable about the rotation center line, and having a post that engages the contact portion and applies a force to the manipulation button in an opposite direction to the push direction; and a rack disposed on the actuator, which includes teeth located along an arc at a radial distance from the center line, where the teeth and engaged by and receive controlled drive from a rotating drive gear, thereby controlling the rotation of the actuator about the rotation center line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Kawashima, Ryo Fukikoshi, Masaho Morita
  • Publication number: 20220305375
    Abstract: An improvement is achieved in workability in an operation of assembling an operation input device having a function of applying a reaction force in response to a movement of an operation button. An input device (100) has an operation button (20), a movable member (30) capable of pushing the operation button (20) toward an initial position, and an electric motor (35) that moves the movable member (30). The input device (100) has a holder (40) that holds the electric motor (35). The holder (40) supports the operation button (20) and the movable member (30) so as to permit movement of the operation button (20) and the movable member (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Masaho Morita, Ryo Fukikoshi, Kenji Kawashima, Takeshi Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11439897
    Abstract: Sliding movements between a button drive member and a manipulation button are reduced in a manipulation input device having a function of providing the haptic sense. Manipulation buttons (20R, 20L) individually have contact portions (20b) on sides opposite to sides to be pushed by a user, and are movable about rotation center lines (Ax1). Actuators (30R, 30L) and (230) have button drive members (31, 231) that contact the contact portions (20b) of the manipulation buttons (20L, 20R), and apply, to the manipulation buttons (20L, 20R), forces in opposite directions to directions in which the manipulation buttons (20L, 20R) are pushed. In addition, the actuators (30R, 30L, 230) have guides (34a, 234a) that define the directions in which the button drive members (31, 231) move, and the button drive members (31, 231) are slidable along the guides (34a, 234a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Kawashima, Ryo Fukikoshi, Masaho Morita
  • Publication number: 20220193537
    Abstract: In order to reduce influences of light from indoor lighting equipment or the like on the accuracy in detecting the position of an operating device, an operating device (301) includes: left and right hold sections to be held by a user, each of which is provided with an operating member at an upper surface thereof; a central section (321) which is a section between the left and right hold sections; and a light emitting surface (328c) adapted to emit light to be captured by an information processing apparatus through a camera, the light emitting surface (328c) provided at a front surface of the central section (321). The central section (321) includes a portion which is located over the light emitting surface (328c) and is located on a more forward side than the light emitting surface (328c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Takeshi IGARASHI, Masaho MORITA, Kazuyoshi ENOMOTO, Toshimasa AOKI