Patents by Inventor Masaru Komatsu

Masaru Komatsu 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: 11740649
    Abstract: A multidirectional input device includes an operation input part, a base, and a load detector. The operation input part includes an operation stick, two coupled parts configured to convert a tilt of the operation stick into two rotation angles orthogonal to each other, at least one return spring configured to return the operation stick to an upright position, and a frame accommodating the two coupled parts, the at least one return spring, and a part of the operation stick. The base has a plate shape and is provided below the frame. The load detector is provided on the frame or the base and is configured to detect a load applied to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunio Hosono, Masaru Komatsu, Sadayuki Yaginuma, Yasuji Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20230079515
    Abstract: A door handle apparatus to be attached to a door of a vehicle is provided. The door handle apparatus includes a case, a strain body, and an elastic mechanism. The case includes an outer case provided so as to face a vehicle exterior side and an inner case provided so as to face a vehicle interior side. The outer case and the inner case are integrated with each other. The strain body is provided in the case, has a sensor mounted on a middle portion between one end portion and an opposite end portion of the strain body, and the one end portion of the strain body is fixed to a portion on a center side of the inner case. The elastic mechanism uses an elastic force to press the opposite end portion of the strain body against a fixing portion at an end of the inner case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Wataru SATO, Yuzuru KAWANA, Kazuhito OSHITA, Masaru KOMATSU
  • Publication number: 20230067991
    Abstract: In a door handle sensor system, a door handle device includes an electrostatic sensor to detect the user with respect to a door handle, and a pressure sensor to detect the operating force applied to the door handle. A control device determines whether the position of an operation is in a first end section, a second end section, or a center section of the door handle, and controls an unlatched state based on the determination result and the value detected by the pressure sensor. The electrostatic sensor includes a first electrode including multiple first electrode parts and a second electrode including multiple second electrode parts arranged alternately with the first electrode parts. The first electrode part other than the endmost first electrode part in the first direction and the second electrode part other than the endmost second electrode part in the first direction are arranged in the center section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Satoru TAKIZAWA, Masaru KOMATSU, Kazuhito OSHITA, Manabu TENJIN
  • Publication number: 20220100223
    Abstract: A multidirectional input device includes an operation input part, a base, and a load detector. The operation input part includes an operation stick, two coupled parts configured to convert a tilt of the operation stick into two rotation angles orthogonal to each other, at least one return spring configured to return the operation stick to an upright position, and a frame accommodating the two coupled parts, the at least one return spring, and a part of the operation stick. The base has a plate shape and is provided below the frame. The load detector is provided on the frame or the base and is configured to detect a load applied to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Kunio HOSONO, Masaru KOMATSU, Sadayuki YAGINUMA, Yasuji HAGIWARA
  • Publication number: 20190033997
    Abstract: An input control device includes a reception unit configured to receive a first input from a screen input device that detects an operation performed on an operation screen, and a second input from one or more other input devices, a setup unit configured to set, on a basis of the second input, decision criteria for deciding whether an operation performed on at least a part of a target region in the operation screen is valid, and a decision unit configured to decide whether the operation performed on at least a part of the target region is valid, on a basis of the first input and the decision criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Kazuhito Oshita, Masaru Komatsu, Hiroshi Shigetaka, Koichi Miura, Tetsuo Muranaka, Naoyuki Hatano
  • Publication number: 20090194404
    Abstract: A pressing-type input device includes an operation part and pressure sensors that are provided on the lower surface of the operation part. The operation part includes an operation region where the pressure sensors are provided, and an outer region that is formed outside the operation region. An inner portion of the operation region is locally more flexible than the outer region that is formed outside the operation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshizo Kubo, Shinji Hirano, Hideki Ito, Masaru Komatsu, Tadamitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 6791532
    Abstract: To provide an input device including a deformable electrical insulating sensor base, an operation end connected to the center portion of the sensor base, a first resistive layer provided on one surface of the sensor base, a second resistive layer provided on a surface opposite to the one surface of the sensor base, and a detecting circuit in which a force is exerted on the operation end in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction to deform the sensor base, and changes of resistance values of the first resistive layer and the second resistive layer by the deformation of the sensor base are electrically detected, wherein the force exerted on the operation end in the horizontal direction is detected by the first resistive layer, and the force exerted on the operation end in the vertical direction is detected by the first resistive layer and the second resistive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Hirano, Masaru Komatsu
  • Patent number: 6646631
    Abstract: An input device which provides excellent operability and reaction to a user, and which can be easily operated. The device comprises a casing, an operation unit supported parallel-movably in a direction along one surface of the casing, having a member to return to an initial position when the operation unit is not operated, and a signal generation portion which detects moving direction and moving amount of the operation unit, and generates a control signal to control moving direction and moving amount of an object to be operated on an image display device, in accordance with the detected moving direction and moving amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Suzuki, Seiichi Suga, Masaru Komatsu
  • Patent number: 6556186
    Abstract: In a keyboard input device, a mounting member of a pointing device has holes, and a base has projections. The projections are joined to the holes by caulking, thereby mounting the pointing device on the base. An operating portion of the pointing device is placed among a plurality of control keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Narusawa, Masaru Komatsu, Shinji Hirano
  • Publication number: 20030016209
    Abstract: In a keyboard input device, a mounting member of a pointing device has holes, and a base has projections. The projections are joined to the holes by caulking, thereby mounting the pointing device on the base. An operating portion of the pointing device is placed among a plurality of control keys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Narusawa, Masaru Komatsu, Shinji Hirano
  • Publication number: 20020190949
    Abstract: To provide an input device including a deformable electrical insulating sensor base, an operation end connected to the center portion of the sensor base, a first resistive layer provided on one surface of the sensor base, a second resistive layer provided on a surface opposite to the one surface of the sensor base, and a detecting circuit in which a force is exerted on the operation end in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction to deform the sensor base, and changes of resistance values of the first resistive layer and the second resistive layer by the deformation of the sensor base are electrically detected, wherein the force exerted on the operation end in the horizontal direction is detected by the first resistive layer, and the force exerted on the operation end in the vertical direction is detected by the first resistive layer and the second resistive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Hirano, Masaru Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20020122025
    Abstract: An input device which provides excellent operability and reaction to a user, and which can be easily operated. The device comprises a casing, an operation unit supported parallel-movably in a direction along one surface of the casing, having a member to return to an initial position when the operation unit is not operated, and a signal generation portion which detects moving direction and moving amount of the operation unit, and generates a control signal to control moving direction and moving amount of an object to be operated on an image display device, in accordance with the detected moving direction and moving amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: KATSUTOSHI SUZUKI, SEIICHI SUGA, MASARU KOMATSU
  • Patent number: 6322453
    Abstract: A perpendicular distance (PCR1) between a centerline (L1) including the center (O3) of the outer circumference surface (4b) of an outer roller (4), orthogonal to axis Z of a trunnion (2a) and a joint center O is shifted by &Dgr;h (=PCR1−PCR2) from a perpendicular distance (PCR2) between a centerline (L2) including the center (O1) of the outer circumference surface (3b) of an inner roller (3), orthogonal to axis Z of a trunnion (2a) and a joint center O. Under the most favorable conditions, PCR2 is shifted by an optimal amount of &Dgr;H from PCR1 toward the proximal end of the trunnion, and the position of contact (S) between the inner circumference surface (4a) of the outer roller 4 and the outer circumference surface (3b) of the inner roller (3) is located on the centerline (L1) (on PCR1) of the outer circumference surface (4b) of the outer roller (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Ishiguro, Kenji Terada, Yoshimasa Ushioda, Akio Sakaguchi, Hisaaki Kura, Katsuhiro Suzuki, Masaru Komatsu
  • Patent number: 6137474
    Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus is provided which is capable of detecting a switching operation of a stick-type operation section without providing a specific sensor and/or circuit element for detecting a switching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Komatsu
  • Patent number: 5961467
    Abstract: A cardiovascular system observation method using a computer processor on the basis of pulse wave amplitude data obtained from a patient in a compressed state which changes, said method comprising: process steps for forming measurement patterns expressing the transition of pulse wave amplitude values by smoothing minute fluctuations of said pulse wave amplitude data and normalizing the pulse wave amplitude values and pulse wave intervals of said pulse wave amplitude data; process steps for extracting the features of the measurement patterns; and process steps for judging the pattern shape to judge reference pattern groups to which said measurement pattern belongs by using said features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventors: Hideaki Shimazu, Masaru Komatsu
  • Patent number: 5940063
    Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus is provided which is capable of accurately stopping a cursor at a desired position by an easy cursor movement operation. The coordinate input apparatus includes a stick-type operation section, pressure sensor sections for detecting an operational load force applied during operation of the operation section and outputting the detected operation load force as load data, a cursor movement control section for performing counting which accords with an increase or decrease in the load data output from the pressure sensor sections and outputting load data corresponding to a count value. The coordinate data output from the cursor movement control section indicates an increase count output value in response to an increase or decrease in load data when the load data output from the pressure sensor sections increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Komatsu
  • Patent number: 5877749
    Abstract: An operation inputting apparatus is disclosed by which, even if a load detection output remains after an operation of a stick type operation member is stopped by an operator, a load detection output which coincides with stopping of the operation of the stick type operation member can be obtained. A pressure detection sensor detects a load force applied to the stick type operation member upon operation of the stick type operation member, and a comparison circuit compares a load detection value obtained from the pressure detection sensor with a preset load value. A timer circuit adjusts a count value in response to a result of the comparison and detects the count value equal to zero to produce a zero detection output. A judgment level production section sets two judgment levels for presence or absence of an output in response to the zero detection output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadakazu Shiga, Masaru Komatsu, Minoru Numata
  • Patent number: 5788577
    Abstract: An inner roller is rotatably fitted on a trunnion of a tripod member through a plurality of needle rollers and held in position against slipping off the trunnion by a slip-off preventing ring and a stopper ring mounted on the distal end of the trunnion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Kadota, Yoshimasa Ushioda, Yukio Asahara, Hiroki Terada, Masaru Komatsu, Hiroyuki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 5680867
    Abstract: In an electronic blood pressure measurement device which is arranged to extract pulse waves from the measured cuff pressure, a pulse wave pattern is generated from the pulse wave amplitude and pulse wave interval data and this pulse wave pattern is compared with reference patterns to classify the pattern in order to accurately obtain biological information other than the blood pressure. Blood pressure amplitudes PA(i) are computed from the measured cuff pressures C(i) and a pulse wave pattern is generated (35) on the basis of this pulse wave amplitude data and this pulse wave pattern is classified into a plurality of reference patterns (37) according to reference patterns or reference values (36). Here, the reference patterns or reference values are set as hemodynamic references based on dynamic characteristics of the blood vessel or cardiac output characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Inventors: Hideaki Shimazu, Hidetaka Shimizu, Noriyuki Yamaguchi, Masaru Komatsu
  • Patent number: 5680154
    Abstract: An operation inputting apparatus is disclosed by which, even if a load detection output remains after an operation of a stick type operation member is stopped by an operator, a load detection output which coincides with stopping of the operation of the stick type operation member can be obtained. A pressure detection sensor detects a load force applied to the stick type operation member upon operation of the stick type operation member, and a comparison circuit compares a load detection value obtained from the pressure detection sensor with a preset load value. A timer circuit adjusts a count value in response to a result of the comparison and detects the count value equal to zero to produce a zero detection output. A judgment level production section sets two judgment levels for presence or absence of an output in response to the zero detection output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadakazu Shiga, Masaru Komatsu, Minoru Numata