Patents by Inventor Masashi Tanaka

Masashi Tanaka 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: 10564579
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image to a recording material includes a cylindrical film, a heater configured to make contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate, and a heat conduction member configured to make contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface thereof being in contact with the film, the heat conduction member having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate, and being divided into parts in a generatrix direction of the film. The toner image formed on the recording material is fixed on the recording material by using heat of the film, and one of the parts of the heat conduction member is configured to make contact with the heater continuously from a center to an end of a heat generation region of the heater in the generatrix direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Ogawa, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Masashi Tanaka, Kensuke Umeda
  • Publication number: 20200051360
    Abstract: Provided is a biometric data registration system, which displays screen data for causing a user to select whether a destination of registration of the user's biometric data is a card for payment or a registration destination server device, accepts from the user a selection of the destination of registration, and acquires the user's biometric data. If the selection indicates the card for payment, the biometric data registration system stores the biometric data in a first storage unit which is for managing data which is stored in a storage medium of the card for payment, whereas if the selection indicates the registration destination server device, the biometric data registration system stores the biometric data in a second storage unit which corresponds to the registration destination server device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventor: Masashi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20200019956
    Abstract: A multifunction card includes an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a memory, a processor, and a communicator. The memory stores first software which is executed by the processor and realizes a card payment function, second software which is executed by the processor and realizes a function other than the card payment function, biometric data for a user capable of using the card payment function, and setting data which represents that biometric authentication for the first software is necessary and whether biometric authentication for the second software is necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventor: Masashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10521994
    Abstract: Provided is a biometric data registration system, which displays screen data for causing a user to select whether a destination of registration of the user's biometric data is a card for payment or a registration destination server device, accepts from the user a selection of the destination of registration, and acquires the user's biometric data. If the selection indicates the card for payment, the biometric data registration system stores the biometric data in a first storage unit which is for managing data which is stored in a storage medium of the card for payment, whereas if the selection indicates the registration destination server device, the biometric data registration system stores the biometric data in a second storage unit which corresponds to the registration destination server device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Brainy Inc.
    Inventor: Masashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10520864
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion that forms an image on a recording material, and a fixing portion including a cylindrical heat transfer member, and a heating member contacting an inner surface of the heat transfer member. The fixing portion fixes the image on the recording material by heating the recording material, on which the image has been formed, by heat from the heating member through the heat transfer member. A control unit controls a target temperature of the heating member, and analyzes whether or not a plurality of pixels, of image data corresponding to the image to be formed on the recording material, in each interval corresponding to a circumferential length of the heat transfer member, with respect to a recording material feeding direction, are pixels for forming an image with a predetermined density or more, and sets the target temperature depending on an analyzation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sho Taguchi, Masashi Tanaka, Tatsuya Kinukawa, Naofumi Murata
  • Publication number: 20190377178
    Abstract: A virtual reality system includes a first information processing device, a virtual reality headset, a biometric data acquisition device, a first sensor, and a second sensor. The first information processing device creates virtual reality content. The virtual reality headset is worn by the user and displays the virtual reality content received from the first information processing device to the user. The biometric data acquisition device acquires biometric data of the user. The first information processing device adds an image making the user recognize the position and the direction of the biometric data acquisition device to the virtual reality content on the basis of position and direction information created by the first sensor and the second sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Hirofumi Shibukawa, Masashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10504104
    Abstract: A multifunction card includes an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a memory, a processor, and a communicator. The memory stores first software which is executed by the processor and realizes a card payment function, second software which is executed by the processor and realizes a function other than the card payment function, biometric data for a user capable of using the card payment function, and setting data which represents that biometric authentication for the first software is necessary and whether biometric authentication for the second software is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Brainy Inc.
    Inventor: Masashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10488795
    Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt, a heater, and a pressing member for forming a nip through the belt in cooperation with the heater. The nip includes a region at which a width of the nip with respect to a feeding direction of a recording material gradually increases from a longitudinal central portion toward a longitudinal end portion, and a pressure of the nip gradually increases from the longitudinal central portion toward the longitudinal end portion. A heat-conductive member includes a regulating portion for regulating movement thereof relative to a supporting member in a longitudinal direction of the heater. The regulating portion is provided in a region of the heat-conductive member corresponding to a position of the nip closer to the longitudinal end portion than to the longitudinal central portion, and a bias member is provided outside of the region of the heat-conductive member corresponding to the position of the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masashi Tanaka, Shoichiro Ikegami, Kensuke Umeda, Sho Taguchi, Ai Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20190339638
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a thermal conductive member that is in contact with a heater and has a thermal conductivity higher than the thermal conductivity of a base material of the heater, and a thermal-resistant member that is disposed between the thermal conductive member and a support member configured to support the heater, a thermal resistance in a thickness direction of the thermal-resistant member being higher than the thermal resistance in the thickness direction of the thermal conductive member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kinukawa, Masashi Tanaka, Sho Taguchi, Naofumi Murata
  • Publication number: 20190332042
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image based on image data, a fixing unit configured to fix the image formed by the image forming unit on a recording material, a conversion unit configured to convert image data into conversion data including a plurality of areas having a first resolution in a main scanning direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording material, and a second resolution higher than the first resolution in a sub-scanning direction, which is the conveyance direction of the recording material, an analysis unit configured to analyze values related to the areas of the plurality of areas of the conversion data obtained by the conversion unit, and a temperature control unit configured to control a fixing temperature of the fixing unit according to a result of the analysis performed by the analysis unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Kohei Okayasu, Masashi Tanaka, Shingo Ito
  • Patent number: 10437057
    Abstract: A virtual reality system includes a first information processing device, a virtual reality headset, a biometric data acquisition device, a first sensor, and a second sensor. The first information processing device creates virtual reality content. The virtual reality headset is worn by the user and displays the virtual reality content received from the first information processing device to the user. The biometric data acquisition device acquires biometric data of the user. The first information processing device adds an image making the user recognize the position and the direction of the biometric data acquisition device to the virtual reality content on the basis of position and direction information created by the first sensor and the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Brainy Inc.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Shibukawa, Masashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10429777
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a tubular film, an elongate heater, a roller, and a lubricant interposed between the heater and the film. A temperature detecting member detects a temperature of the heater, a controller controls electrical power supplied to the heater so that a temperature detected by the temperature detecting member reaches a target temperature, and a guide member guides the film. The guide member has a plurality of protrusions protruding toward the inner surface of the film. In a longitudinal direction of the guide member, a first region of the guide member corresponds to the temperature detecting member, and a second region of the guide member does not correspond to the temperature detecting member. In addition, a width of one protrusion located at the first region is greater than a width of some of the plurality protrusions located at the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kensuke Umeda, Masashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10293570
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is easy and efficient production of a light and strong resin tube. A resin sheet is molded into a tubular form having a gap, and at least the gap portion is sealed with resin to produce a resin tube. This enables easy and efficient production of a light and strong resin tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shouma Nishino, Takashi Morimoto, Hideo Mine, Kazuyuki Harada, Masashi Tanaka, Takeshi Kiritoshi
  • Publication number: 20190147684
    Abstract: Provided is a biometric data registration system, which displays screen data for causing a user to select whether a destination of registration of the user's biometric data is a card for payment or a registration destination server device, accepts from the user a selection of the destination of registration, and acquires the user's biometric data. If the selection indicates the card for payment, the biometric data registration system stores the biometric data in a first storage unit which is for managing data which is stored in a storage medium of the card for payment, whereas if the selection indicates the registration destination server device, the biometric data registration system stores the biometric data in a second storage unit which corresponds to the registration destination server device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventor: Masashi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20190101854
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion configured to form an image on a recording material; a fixing portion including a cylindrical heat transfer member and a heating member contacting an inner surface of the heat transfer member and configured to fix the image on the recording material by heating the image-formed recording material by heat from the heating member through the heat transfer member; and a control unit configured to control a target temperature of the heating member. The control unit analyzes whether or not a plurality of pixels, of image data corresponding to the image to be formed on the recording material, in each interval corresponding to a circumferential length of the heat transfer member with respect to a recording material feeding direction are pixels for forming an image with a predetermined density or more, and sets the target temperature depending on an analyzation result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Sho Taguchi, Masashi Tanaka, Tatsuya Kinukawa, Naofumi Murata
  • Patent number: 10222718
    Abstract: In a configuration in which a voltage of polarity opposite to charging polarity of toner is applied to a conveyance guide, controlling deposition of toner on the conveyance guide has been difficult. When performing duplex image formation, a potential difference between a surface potential of a photoconductive drum charged by a charging roller and a potential of the conveyance guide is smaller during printing on the second surface than during printing on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Okayasu, Masashi Tanaka, Sho Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20190004460
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image to a recording material includes a cylindrical film, a heater configured to make contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate, and a heat conduction member configured to make contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface thereof being in contact with the film, the heat conduction member having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate, and being divided into parts in a generatrix direction of the film. The toner image formed on the recording material is fixed on the recording material by using heat of the film, and one of the parts of the heat conduction member is configured to make contact with the heater continuously from a center to an end of a heat generation region of the heater in the generatrix direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Kenichi Ogawa, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Masashi Tanaka, Kensuke Umeda
  • Publication number: 20180348677
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes a tubular film, an elongate heater, a roller, and a lubricant interposed between the heater and the film. A temperature detecting member detects a temperature of the heater, a controller controls electrical power supplied to the heater so that a temperature detected by the temperature detecting member reaches a target temperature, and a guide member guides the film. The guide member has a plurality of protrusions protruding toward the inner surface of the film. In a longitudinal direction of the guide member, a first region of the guide member corresponds to the temperature detecting member, and a second region of the guide member does not correspond to the temperature detecting member. In addition, a width of one protrusion located at the first region is greater than a width of some of the plurality protrusions located at the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Kensuke Umeda, Masashi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10120308
    Abstract: An image heating device includes a rotator, a heater including a heat generating resistor, a connector electrically connected to the heater, and a power interrupting unit that detects an abnormal temperature rise of the heater and interrupt supply of the power to the heater. The power interrupting unit includes a first terminal and a second terminal, a first conductive sheet metal that electrically connects the connector to the first terminal, a second conductive sheet metal that to electrically connects the connector to the second terminal via the heat generating resistor, a length of the second conductive sheet metal being different from a length of the first conductive sheet metal in the longitudinal direction of the heater, and a supporting member supporting the heater and including a regulation portion that regulates rotation of the power interrupting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Akamatsu, Masashi Tanaka, Kensuke Umeda, Shoichiro Ikegami, Sho Taguchi, Ai Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10095165
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus for fixing a toner image to a recording material includes a cylindrical film, a heater configured to make contact with the film, the heater including a substrate and a heat generation resistor formed on the substrate, and a heat conduction member configured to make contact with a surface of the heater opposite to a surface thereof being in contact with the film, the heat conduction member having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the substrate, and being divided into parts in a generatrix direction of the film. The toner image formed on the recording material is fixed on the recording material by using heat of the film, and one of the parts of the heat conduction member is configured to make contact with the heater continuously from a center to an end of a heat generation region of the heater in the generatrix direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Ogawa, Takashi Narahara, Toru Imaizumi, Yasuhito Minamishima, Tsuguhiro Yoshida, Masashi Tanaka, Kensuke Umeda