Patents by Inventor Masanari Yamamoto

Masanari Yamamoto 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: 11949959
    Abstract: It is made possible to perform data transmission through a cable satisfactorily. A cable is connected between first electronic equipment and second electronic equipment. The cable includes a current consumption unit that receives supply of current from the first electronic equipment through a power supply line, a current monitor unit that observes a current amount the first electronic equipment is capable of supplying to the power supply line, and an information transmission unit that transmits control information according to the observed current amount to the first electronic equipment. The first electronic equipment controls the state of data to be supplied to the cable, on the basis of the control information transmitted thereto from the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuaki Toba, Kazuo Yamamoto, Masanari Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20240069273
    Abstract: To mitigate the accuracy of misalignment to reduce costs, and to suppress an inter-mode propagation delay difference to enable high-quality transmission of signals. An optical waveguide is configured to propagate only a fundamental mode at a first wavelength and propagate at least a first-order mode as well as the fundamental mode at a second wavelength. The optical waveguide is configured such that a refractive index distribution of a core and a cladding is controlled so that the inter-mode propagation delay difference is within a predetermined threshold, for example, the inter-mode propagation delay difference is zero, when communication is performed using light of the second wavelength. For example, the first wavelength is in a 1310-nm band and the second wavelength is in an 850-nm band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: HIROSHI MORITA, YUSUKE OYAMA, KAZUAKI TOBA, MASANARI YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20240035923
    Abstract: To properly measure the bending amount of an optical waveguide routed in an electronic device or the like. An optical signal outputted with a second wavelength from the optical waveguide is received by a light receiving unit. In this case, the optical waveguide allows propagation only in a basic mode at a first wavelength and the second wavelength is a wavelength where the optical waveguide allows propagation at least in a primary mode in addition to a basic mode. The bending amount of the optical waveguide is obtained by a processing unit on the basis of the amount of a primary mode component included in the optical signal with the second wavelength. For example, the processing unit obtains the bending amount of the optical waveguide by using the ratio of the amount of the primary mode component included in the optical signal with the second wavelength and the amount of the basic mode component included in the optical signal with the second wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: HIROSHI MORITA, YUSUKE OYAMA, KAZUAKI TOBA, MASANARI YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20240040188
    Abstract: A cable may be satisfactorily used that has a specific function such as a register that holds specification data and a current consumption unit such as an element for adjusting signal quality. The cable is connected between a first electronic device and a second electronic device. A determination unit determines whether or not the first electronic device is a compatible electronic device. A control unit performs control to operate in a compatible mode when the first electronic device is a compatible electronic device and operate in a non-compatible mode when the first electronic device is not a compatible electronic device on the basis of the determination result by the determination unit. Furthermore, an electronic device is connected to an external device via the cable. The determination unit determines whether or not the cable is a compatible cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: HIROSHI MORITA, KAZUAKI TOBA, KAZUO YAMAMOTO, MASANARI YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11816059
    Abstract: To enable preferable signal transmission between a plurality of daisy-chained devices at low cost. A transmission device generates a plurality of signals having different voltage levels and outputs the signals to a communication line at different timings. For example, the plurality of signals having different voltage levels is generated by a plurality of drivers or one driver. A receiving side can immediately determine whether or not it is information to be passed to the subsequent stage on the basis of only a difference in voltage level without logically analyzing contents of a signal, and cost of components such as a memory, verification cost, or the like are unnecessary so that the cost can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuaki Toba, Kazuo Yamamoto, Masanari Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20230276366
    Abstract: The present invention allows a reduction in power consumed by communications between devices over a network. A transmission-side device transmits a signal including a wake up signal, path information, and a main data signal in this order to the following relay device (switch/router). The relay device activates a circuit in a standby state on a path on the basis of the wake up signal and the path information. Relay devices on the path are sequentially activated, and the main data signal is finally received by a reception-side device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi MORITA, Kazuaki TOBA, Masanari YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11743531
    Abstract: Provided is a cable connected between a first electronic device and a second electronic device. A determination unit determines whether or not the first electronic device is a compatible electronic device. A control unit performs control to operate in a compatible mode when the first electronic device is a compatible electronic device and operate in a non-compatible mode when the first electronic device is not a compatible electronic device on the basis of the determination result by the determination unit. Furthermore, an electronic device is connected to an external device via the cable. The determination unit determines whether or not the cable is a compatible cable. The control unit performs control to operate in the compatible mode when the cable is a compatible cable and operate in the non-compatible mode when the cable is not a compatible cable on the basis of the determination result by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuaki Toba, Kazuo Yamamoto, Masanari Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20230262116
    Abstract: This invention satisfactorily prevents another person from accessing a terminal that is in use, without reducing a bandwidth allocated to a dedicated peer-to-peer path for the terminal that is in use. A controller controls processing of receiving a request from a first terminal for connection to a second terminal, and processing of transmitting, when the second terminal is in use, a notification that connection cannot be established to the first terminal. For example, the controller recognizes that the second terminal is in use on the basis of connection information stored in a storage unit or on the basis of connection information received from another network device that transmits the request for connection to the second terminal transmitted from the first terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki TOBA, Hiroshi MORITA, Masanari YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11716146
    Abstract: To relax the accuracy with respect to a positional deviation, and thus to reduce costs. An optical waveguide is included that performs propagation only in a reference mode at a first wavelength. Communication is performed using light that has a second wavelength and includes a component of at least a first order mode in addition to a component of the reference mode. Here, the second wavelength is a wavelength that enables the optical waveguide to perform propagation in at least the first order mode in addition to the reference mode. For example, a light path adjuster that adjusts a light path such that input light is guided to a core of the optical waveguide, is further included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuaki Toba, Masanari Yamamoto, Yusuke Oyama
  • Publication number: 20230208524
    Abstract: There is provided a transmission system, a transmission method, and a transmission device that make it possible to inhibit deterioration in quality of transmission signals while reducing the number of times of compensation on transmission signals in a case where a plurality of devices is connected in a daisy chain. The transmission system includes a plurality of sub devices and a main device that are connected in a daisy chain. The main device includes a main connector connected to the first sub device of the plurality of sub devices, the main connector being configured to output transmission signals of a plurality of channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanari YAMAMOTO, Kazuaki TOBA, Hiroshi MORITA
  • Patent number: 11662393
    Abstract: It is possible to determine, with a simple configuration, that the connection direction of a cable is the reverse direction. A cable is connected for use between a transmission device and a reception device, and transmits data in one direction. A connection direction determination unit determines whether the connection direction is the reverse direction, on the basis of a result of voltage monitoring at a predetermined position on a power-supply line. When the connection direction is determined to be the reverse direction, the information transmission unit transmits information indicating that the connection direction is the reverse direction, to the transmission device or the reception device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanari Yamamoto, Kazuaki Toba, Kazuo Yamamoto, Hiroshi Morita
  • Patent number: 11658747
    Abstract: There is provided an optical waveguide that performs propagation only in a reference mode at a first wavelength. Communication is performed using light of a second wavelength that enables the optical waveguide to perform propagation in at least a first order mode in addition to the reference mode. When light entering the optical waveguide deviates with respect to an optical axis or deviates angularly, propagation is performed in at least the first order mode in addition to the reference mode, the first order mode being generated due to the deviation with respect to the optical axis or the angular deviation. This results in a reduction in a loss of coupling of optical power. This makes it possible to relax the accuracy with respect to a deviation with respect to an optical axis or an angular deviation, and thus to reduce costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuaki Toba, Masanari Yamamoto, Yusuke Oyama
  • Patent number: 11579369
    Abstract: There is provided an optical communication connector, an optical communication cable, and an electronic device that can curb occurrence of a transmission error. The optical communication connector includes a collimating lens that collimates light from multiple optical transmission lines transmitting optical signals, and a refracting portion that refracts and emits light emitted from the collimating lens, in which in the collimating lens, at least some of transmission channels and reception channels corresponding to the multiple optical transmission lines are thinned out. The optical communication connector can be applied to an optical communication system, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masanari Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20220390674
    Abstract: There is provided a light emitting element and an optical waveguide that propagates light from the light emitting element. For example, the optical waveguide is an optical fiber or a silicon optical waveguide. The light propagating through the optical waveguide is light having components of a fundamental mode and a first order mode, and the light propagates through the optical waveguide while having a light intensity distribution in which high intensity portions alternately appear in one direction and another direction opposite to the one direction with respect to the center of a core along the optical waveguide. A light intensity distribution at an output end surface of the optical waveguide is a light intensity distribution corresponding to an intermediate position between a first position where the high intensity portion is in the one direction and a second position where the high intensity portion is in the another direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi MORITA, Kazuaki TOBA, Masanari YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 11506850
    Abstract: The coupling loss of optical power on a reception side due to an axis deviation on a transmission side is satisfactorily mitigated. A connector body including an optical path adjusting unit and a lens is provided. The optical path adjusting unit adjusts an optical path such that the diameter of incident light is reduced while the incident angle is kept. The lens collects light whose optical path has been adjusted, and causes the light to be incident on a light receiver. For example, light incident on the optical path adjusting unit is collimated light. Furthermore, for example, the optical path adjusting unit has a through hole in a central portion. While the incident angle of light to the light receiver satisfies an NA, the focal distance of the lens is decreased. This can mitigate the coupling loss of optical power on a reception side due to an axis deviation on a transmission side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuaki Toba, Masanari Yamamoto, Yusuke Oyama
  • Patent number: 11483188
    Abstract: It is made possible to favorably perform signal transfer between a plurality of daisy-chain-connected devices. There is a communication line for performing communication between a first electronic device and a second electronic device. A data generating section generates first data to be transmitted to the first electronic device. Then, a data input section inputs the first data to a first position on the communication line. In addition, a first data suppressing section is provided at a second position on the communication line, the second position being closer to the second electronic device than the first position is, and the first data suppressing section prevents the first data from being sent to the second electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuaki Toba, Kazuo Yamamoto, Masanari Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11480743
    Abstract: Provided is a connector that includes an optical component and a movable member. The optical component emits light. Light from the optical component is incident upon the movable member and the movable member is movable between a first state taken during non-fitting to a counterpart connector and a second state taken during fitting to the counterpart connector. Incident light incident upon the movable member from the optical component is, in the first state, attenuated and emitted to an outside such that power of the light is lower than power of the light when the movable member is held in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuaki Toba, Masanari Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11474300
    Abstract: To provide an optical communication connector, an optical transmitter, an optical receiver, an optical communication system, and an optical communication cable that make it possible to prevent reduction in communication quality at low cost. An optical communication connector according to the present technology is capable of spatial optical coupling, and the optical communication connector includes a first lens and a second lens. The first lens magnifies light emitted from a light emitter. The second lens shapes light incident from the first lens and outputs the shaped light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuaki Toba, Masanari Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11454764
    Abstract: Provided is an optical communication connector that includes a control unit (42). The control unit (42) controls alignment of a ferrule (170) and a lens (162). The ferrule (170) is to fix a fiber (23). The control unit (42) varies a shape of a shape variation member (21) on the basis of a communication quality of light entering the fiber (23) via the lens (162) to control the alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Kazuaki Toba, Masanari Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20220295137
    Abstract: A cable may be satisfactorily used that has a specific function such as a register that holds specification data and a current consumption unit such as an element for adjusting signal quality. The cable is connected between a first electronic device and a second electronic device. A determination unit determines whether or not the first electronic device is a compatible electronic device. A control unit performs control to operate in a compatible mode when the first electronic device is a compatible electronic device and operate in a non-compatible mode when the first electronic device is not a compatible electronic device on the basis of the determination result by the determination unit. Furthermore, an electronic device is connected to an external device via the cable. The determination unit determines whether or not the cable is a compatible cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: HIROSHI MORITA, KAZUAKI TOBA, KAZUO YAMAMOTO, MASANARI YAMAMOTO