Patents by Inventor Masanori Kudou

Masanori Kudou 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: 5989123
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a steering wheel control apparatus for a television game machine, that is used for a car race game, etc., that is structured compactly and simply, and that can be operated while the apparatus is fixed at an optimal position. The feature of the steering wheel control apparatus is that a plurality of button switches transmitting game control signal are provided on a surface of upper posts between a center portion of a steering wheel and hand grips on each side thereof, within a range to which a thumbs of player's hand holding the grip without departing from the grips. Further, at the reverse of the center portion of the steering wheel, shift levers having operation points near the respective grips are provided. The side face of a base casing rotatably supporting the steering wheel is extended perpendicularly and to the front and to the rear so that the player can securely hold the base case between the thighs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Tosaki, Masanori Kudou
  • Patent number: 5786807
    Abstract: A convertible peripheral input device comprises a control pad and a multiaxis input device selectably mounted on either side of the control pad so that the multiaxis input device can be positioned for right-hand use or left-hand use according to the user's preference. The multiaxis input device can be rotated from one position to another by use of a hinge mechanism with two points of rotation; one for rotation of the multiaxis input device 180 degrees relative to the hinge mechanism and the second point of rotation allowing the hinge mechanism to rotate 180 degrees relative to the control pad bottom surface. The rotatable hinge mechanism may be used with videogame control pads and joysticks as well as keyboards with mouse controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventors: Johnny D. Couch, Sarah Mason, Ira L. Velinsky, Steven Kevin Guerrera, Gregory Hunter, John Gundlach, Masanori Kudou
  • Patent number: 5781180
    Abstract: A convertible peripheral input device comprises a control pad and a multiaxis input device selectably mounted on the edges of the control pad so that the multiaxis input device can be positioned for right-handed use or left-handed use according to the user's preference. The multiaxis input device can be rotated from one position to another by the use of a hinge mechanism with two points of rotation: one for rotation of the multiaxis input device 180 degrees relative to the hinge mechanism and the second point of rotation allowing the hinge mechanism to be rotated 180 degrees relative to the control pad bottom surface. The rotatable hinge mechanism may be used with videogame control pads and joysticks as well as keyboards with mouse controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Sega of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Johnny D. Couch, Sarah Mason Richmond, Ira L. Velinsky, Steven Kevin Guerrera, Gregory Hunter, John Gundlach, Masanori Kudou