Patents by Inventor Masakazu Shirai

Masakazu Shirai 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: 20200015011
    Abstract: A communication system includes a control terminal device and one or more communication devices. The control terminal device transmits a search message to entire network when the communication device is registered into the communication system. When the communication device is connected to the network, the communication device determines whether a connection position of the connected communication device on the network is the predetermined connection position. When the communication device is not positioned at the predetermined connection position, the communication device cancels the connection with the network and then connects to the predetermined connection position of the network and responds to the search message through the network after the communication device directly connects to the control terminal device and obtains information for connecting to the predetermined connection position of the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Akihiko SUYAMA, Masakazu SHIRAI, Yuki SUEMITSU, Tomoyoshi AKUTAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20190392865
    Abstract: Provided is a content reproduction device including: a controller configured to: acquire playlist information indicating a reproduction order position of plural pieces of content; acquire reproduction requirement information indicating a condition required for reproduction of each piece of content; acquire reproduction enabling condition information indicating a condition for enabling the reproduction on the content reproduction device; and determine based on the reproduction requirement information and the reproduction enabling condition information whether each of piece of content is reproducible on the content reproduction device; and a storage configured to store information that is based on a determination result obtained by the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventor: Masakazu SHIRAI
  • Patent number: 10390138
    Abstract: An audio system includes a first audio apparatus that receives a first audio signal with a first number of channels and a second audio apparatus connected to the first audio apparatus via a network. The first audio apparatus includes a signal processing unit configured to generate, on the basis of the first audio signal received from the outside of the first audio apparatus, a second audio signal with a second number of channels larger than the first number of channels, and a communication unit configured to transmit a third audio signal corresponding to a part of the channels in the second audio signal generated by the signal processing unit to the second audio apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Shirai, Yuki Suemitsu, Osamu Kohara, Futoshi Muronaga, Kazuhiro Iwashita
  • Patent number: 10362618
    Abstract: A communication system includes a plurality of communication devices constituting a network. Each of the communication devices includes a first wireless communication circuit and a second wireless communication circuit. The second wireless communication circuit of a lower-level communication device accesses the first wireless communication circuit of a higher-level communication device, whereby the higher-level communication device and the lower-level communication device are connected so as to constitute the network. Each of the plurality of communication devices stores system information. When any one of the communication devices is disconnected from the higher-level communication device, the disconnected communication device searches for another communication device using the system information and makes reconnection to the communication device detected by the search.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Shirai, Yuki Suemitsu
  • Publication number: 20190075398
    Abstract: An audio system includes a first audio apparatus that receives a first audio signal with a first number of channels and a second audio apparatus connected to the first audio apparatus via a network. The first audio apparatus includes a signal processing unit configured to generate, on the basis of the first audio signal received from the outside of the first audio apparatus, a second audio signal with a second number of channels larger than the first number of channels, and a communication unit configured to transmit a third audio signal corresponding to a part of the channels in the second audio signal generated by the signal processing unit to the second audio apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Masakazu SHIRAI, Yuki SUEMITSU, Osamu KOHARA, Futoshi MURONAGA, Kazuhiro IWASHITA
  • Patent number: 9977374
    Abstract: A transfer unit includes a transfer target member, a first transfer device, and a holding member. The transfer target member has an image region to which an image is transferred and a non-image region to which the image is not transferred and which exists along an edge of the transfer target member. The transfer target member is transported in a path passing through a contact position where the transfer target member is brought into contact with an image holding body, which has a surface on which the image is held, so as to allow the image to be transferred to the transfer target member. The first transfer device transfers the image from the image holding body to the transfer target member. The holding member is brought into contact with the non-image region so as to hold the transfer target member without contact with the image region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Takashima, Masakazu Shirai, Hiroaki Yagi
  • Publication number: 20180083796
    Abstract: A communication device includes a wireless communication portion and a control portion. The control portion is configured to: activate the wireless communication portion as a stand-alone access point, acquire network information from a device which has established connection to the access point, the network information being information for establishing connection to the network, stop the access point and connect the wireless communication portion to the network using the network information, and after the wireless communication portion is connected to the network, allow the wireless communication portion to function as an access point for relaying another device to the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Akihiko Suyama, Masakazu Shirai, Yuki Suemitsu
  • Publication number: 20180077494
    Abstract: A communication system includes a control terminal device and one or more communication devices. The control terminal device transmits a search message to entire network when the communication device is registered into the communication system. When the communication device is connected to the network, the communication device determines whether a connection position of the connected communication device on the network is the predetermined connection position. When the communication device is not positioned at the predetermined connection position, the communication device cancels the connection with the network and then connects to the predetermined connection position of the network and responds to the search message through the network after the communication device directly connects to the control terminal device and obtains information for connecting to the predetermined connection position of the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Akihiko SUYAMA, Masakazu SHIRAI, Yuki SUEMITSU, Tomoyoshi AKUTAGAWA
  • Publication number: 20180070392
    Abstract: A connection method of a communication device in a communication system is provided. The communication system includes a plurality of communication devices each having a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) access point function and a wireless LAN child device function and is constructed by connecting a lower-level communication device to an access point of a higher-level communication device. A new communication device is to be added to the communication system executes: a first step of connecting to an access point of an arbitrary one of the plurality of communication devices of the communication system; and a second step of acquiring, from the connected communication device, system information of the communication system including a connection form of the plurality of communication devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventor: Masakazu SHIRAI
  • Publication number: 20180020497
    Abstract: A communication system includes a plurality of communication devices constituting a network. Each of the communication devices includes a first wireless communication circuit and a second wireless communication circuit. The second wireless communication circuit of a lower-level communication device accesses the first wireless communication circuit of a higher-level communication device, whereby the higher-level communication device and the lower-level communication device are connected so as to constitute the network. Each of the plurality of communication devices stores system information. When any one of the communication devices is disconnected from the higher-level communication device, the disconnected communication device searches for another communication device using the system information and makes reconnection to the communication device detected by the search.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Masakazu SHIRAI, Yuki SUEMITSU
  • Publication number: 20180004130
    Abstract: A transfer unit includes a transfer target member, a first transfer device, and a holding member. The transfer target member has an image region to which the image is transferred and a non-image region to which the image is not transferred and which exists along an edge of the transfer target member. The transfer target member is transported in a path passing through a contact position where the transfer target member is brought into contact with an image holding body, which has a surface on which the image is held, so as to allow the image to be transferred to the transfer target member. The first transfer device transfers the image from the image holding body to the transfer target member. The holding member is brought into contact with the non-image region so as to hold the transfer target member without contact with the image region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki TAKASHIMA, Masakazu SHIRAI, Hiroaki YAGI
  • Publication number: 20170068190
    Abstract: Provided is a transfer device including a primary transfer roller that selectively takes a contact position where an intermediate transfer belt is brought into contact with an image holding member, and a separation position where the intermediate transfer belt is separated from the image holding member, a tension applying roller on which the intermediate transfer belt is wound thereon together with a driving roller and which is urged in a direction receding from the driving roller, and a relaxing member that is attached to a shaft portion of the tension applying roller, is urged by an urging unit in a direction approaching the driving roller, and relaxes an urging force of the tension applying roller in a direction receding from the driving roller when the primary transfer roller is at the separation position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sota HARA, Yoshiyuki TAKASHIMA, Hiroaki YAGI, Masakazu SHIRAI, Koji DEGUCHI, Kentaro IWAMOTO, Yuta HIRAMINE
  • Patent number: 9581940
    Abstract: Provided is a transfer device including a primary transfer roller that selectively takes a contact position where an intermediate transfer belt is brought into contact with an image holding member, and a separation position where the intermediate transfer belt is separated from the image holding member, a tension applying roller on which the intermediate transfer belt is wound thereon together with a driving roller and which is urged in a direction receding from the driving roller, and a relaxing member that is attached to a shaft portion of the tension applying roller, is urged by an urging unit in a direction approaching the driving roller, and relaxes an urging force of the tension applying roller in a direction receding from the driving roller when the primary transfer roller is at the separation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sota Hara, Yoshiyuki Takashima, Hiroaki Yagi, Masakazu Shirai, Koji Deguchi, Kentaro Iwamoto, Yuta Hiramine
  • Patent number: 9037041
    Abstract: A transfer assembly includes a support member having a side wall that extends in such a direction as to intersect a line extending from the rotation axis of a transfer roller and that has a hole through which a support shaft is inserted with some play being present. The hole has such a shape that, at the beginning of a period when a door is rotated from an open state to a closed state and a positioned portion is in contact with a positioning member, gaps are formed between the support shaft and a wall surface of the hole on both sides of the support shaft in a radial direction crossing an arc that is drawn from a center of the arc at the center line of rotation of the door and that passes through the support shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Shirai, Masatoshi Yamada, Masaaki Tokunaga, Hiroyuki Koide, Mabumi Kashihara
  • Patent number: 8862019
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes at least one first cleaning member that removes residual substances that remain on a surface of an endless belt by being in contact with the surface of the endless belt while rotating in a direction that is opposite to a movement direction in which the endless belt moves; a second cleaning member that is brought into contact with and separated from the surface of the endless belt at a predetermined timing and removes the residual substances that remain on the surface of the endless belt; and a switching unit that switches a rotation direction of the first cleaning member to a direction the same as the movement direction of the endless belt when the second cleaning member is brought into contact with the surface of the endless belt and cleans the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Komiyama, Masaaki Tokunaga, Masakazu Shirai, Kazuyoshi Hagiwara, Kazutoshi Sugitani, Koichi Sato, Masaaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8774674
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body frame, a transport unit, an image carrier, a transfer device, a fixing device, a guide member assembly, a door, and a positioning member. The guide member assembly includes a guide member, a positioned portion, and a support member. The support member supports the guide member and has a side wall that extends in such a direction as to intersect a line drawn in the width direction and that has a hole through which a support shaft is inserted with some play being present. The guide member assembly is supported by the door with some play being present between the guide member assembly and a base plate and is urged by an urging member. The hole is a long hole having a major axis extending in an opening direction of the door away from a center line of rotation of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Tokunaga, Masakazu Shirai, Masatoshi Yamada, Mabumi Kashihara, Hiroyuki Koide
  • Patent number: 8699935
    Abstract: A developer-conveying apparatus is provided, the developer-conveying apparatus including: a conveying member that has a rotational axis rotatably set in a container and a blade formed around the rotational axis, the conveying member conveying a developer along the rotational axis by rotation; and a static eliminating member set in the container and eliminating static electricity of the developer in the container by being brought into contact with the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumi Yamanaka, Yoshihiro Enomoto, Masaaki Tokunaga, Hirofumi Goto, Shinichi Kawamata, Hiroaki Yagi, Masakazu Shirai
  • Publication number: 20130142539
    Abstract: A cleaning device includes at least one first cleaning member that removes residual substances that remain on a surface of an endless belt by being in contact with the surface of the endless belt while rotating in a direction that is opposite to a movement direction in which the endless belt moves; a second cleaning member that is brought into contact with and separated from the surface of the endless belt at a predetermined timing and removes the residual substances that remain on the surface of the endless belt; and a switching unit that switches a rotation direction of the first cleaning member to a direction the same as the movement direction of the endless belt when the second cleaning member is brought into contact with the surface of the endless belt and cleans the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu KOMIYAMA, Masaaki TOKUNAGA, Masakazu SHIRAI, Kazuyoshi HAGIWARA, Kazutoshi SUGITANI, Koichi SATO, Masaaki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20130077995
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a body frame, a transport unit, an image carrier, a transfer device, a fixing device, a guide member assembly, a door, and a positioning member. The guide member assembly includes a guide member, a positioned portion, and a support member. The support member supports the guide member and has a side wall that extends in such a direction as to intersect a line drawn in the width direction and that has a hole through which the support shaft is inserted with some play being present. The guide member assembly is supported by the door with some play being present between the guide member assembly and the base plate and is urged by the urging member. The hole is a long hole having a major axis extending in an opening direction of the door away from the center line of rotation of the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki TOKUNAGA, Masakazu Shirai, Masatoshi Yamada, Mabumi Kashihara, Hiroyuki Koide
  • Publication number: 20130077992
    Abstract: A transfer assembly includes a support member having a side wall that extends in such a direction as to intersect a line extending from the rotation axis of a transfer roller and that has a hole through which a support shaft is inserted with some play being present. The hole has such a shape that, at the beginning of a period when a door is rotated from an open state to a closed state and a positioned portion is in contact with a positioning member, gaps are formed between the support shaft and a wall surface of the hole on both sides of the support shaft in a radial direction crossing an arc that is drawn from a center of the arc at the center line of rotation of the door and that passes through the support shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu SHIRAI, Masatoshi YAMADA, Masaaki TOKUNAGA, Hiroyuki KOIDE, Mabumi KASHIHARA