Patents by Inventor Michio Fukushima

Michio Fukushima 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: 10852679
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus measures the distance between the image forming apparatus and an object located in the periphery of the image forming apparatus each predetermined amount of time. Then, whether or not the object is a human is detected on the basis of the measured distance and a moving amount of the object each predetermined amount of time. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus controls the power supply state of the image forming apparatus in accordance with the result of the human detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Fukushima, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada, Yusuke Horishita
  • Patent number: 10620021
    Abstract: A human presence sensor unit in which an ultrasonic wave sensor is mounted is fixed to a frame sheet metal of an image forming apparatus with a pedestal interposed therebetween. The pedestal is made of a synthetic resin material, and the frame sheet metal is made of a metal material. As the pedestal and the frame sheet metal are made of different materials, a difference in the acoustic impedance is produced between the pedestal and the frame sheet metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Hada, Michio Fukushima, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Yusuke Horishita
  • Publication number: 20190377293
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus measures the distance between the image forming apparatus and an object located in the periphery of the image forming apparatus each predetermined amount of time. Then, whether or not the object is a human is detected on the basis of the measured distance and a moving amount of the object each predetermined amount of time. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus controls the power supply state of the image forming apparatus in accordance with the result of the human detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Michio Fukushima, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada, Yusuke Horishita
  • Patent number: 10444685
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus measures the distance between the image forming apparatus and an object located in the periphery of the image forming apparatus each predetermined amount of time. Then, whether or not the object is a human is detected on the basis of the measured distance and a moving amount of the object each predetermined amount of time. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus controls the power supply state of the image forming apparatus in accordance with the result of the human detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Fukushima, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada, Yusuke Horishita
  • Patent number: 10317527
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including: a sonic sensor that outputs a sonic wave and receives a reflected wave of the output sonic wave; and a control unit configured to determine whether a person exists on a periphery of the information processing apparatus based on distance data and background data, wherein the distance data indicates intensity of a reflected wave in fixed time units received by the sonic sensor during a predetermined period of time after a sonic wave is output from the sonic sensor, the fixed time units being obtained by dividing the predetermined period of time, and the background data is past distance data prepared in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Horishita, Michio Fukushima, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada
  • Patent number: 10298796
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including: a sound wave sensor that outputs a sound wave and receives a reflected wave of the output sound wave; a control unit configured to measure an amplitude of a sound wave, at predetermined time intervals, which is received by the sound wave sensor after the sound wave sensor outputs a sound wave; and a power control unit configured to shift the information processing apparatus from a first power state into a second power state where power consumption is larger than that in the first power state, on a basis that the amplitude of the sound wave measured by the control unit is larger than or equal to a threshold value, wherein in a case where a number of times amplitude of a sound wave measured by the control unit is larger than or equal to the threshold value during a predetermined period of time is larger than or equal to a predetermined number of times, the control unit maintains the power state of the information processing apparatus in the first power state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada, Yusuke Horishita, Michio Fukushima
  • Patent number: 10216461
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus 10 is configured to detect a human present in a first range (detection area A1) from the image forming apparatus 10 using an ultrasonic wave that is output at a first frequency from an ultrasonic sensor 611. If a human is detected in the detection area A1, the image forming apparatus 10 switches the frequency of the ultrasonic wave that is output from the ultrasonic sensor 611 to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency, and is controlled to detect the human in a second range (detection area A2) that is smaller than the detection area A1. When a human is detected in the detection area A2, data communication is started using the ultrasonic wave output from the ultrasonic sensor 611.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Michio Fukushima
  • Patent number: 10218863
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a sonic wave output unit that outputs a sonic wave. A horn restricts an output direction of the sonic wave output from the sonic wave output unit. A cover member is provided on the sonic wave output unit, wherein a region on the cover member corresponding to an opening of the horn is provided with a horizontally arranged slit having a width equal to or larger than a horizontal width of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada, Yusuke Horishita, Michio Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20190025424
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including: a sonic sensor that outputs a sonic wave and receives a reflected wave of the output sonic wave; and a control unit configured to determine whether a person exists on a periphery of the information processing apparatus based on distance data and background data, wherein the distance data indicates intensity of a reflected wave in fixed time units received by the sonic sensor during a predetermined period of time after a sonic wave is output from the sonic sensor, the fixed time units being obtained by dividing the predetermined period of time, and the background data is past distance data prepared in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Yusuke Horishita, Michio Fukushima, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada
  • Patent number: 10120071
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including: a sonic sensor that outputs a sonic wave and receives a reflected wave of the output sonic wave; and a control unit configured to determine whether a person exists on a periphery of the information processing apparatus based on distance data and background data, wherein the distance data indicates intensity of a reflected wave in fixed time units received by the sonic sensor during a predetermined period of time after a sonic wave is output from the sonic sensor, the fixed time units being obtained by dividing the predetermined period of time, and the background data is past distance data prepared in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Horishita, Michio Fukushima, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada
  • Publication number: 20180203651
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus 10 is configured to detect a human present in a first range (detection area A1) from the image forming apparatus 10 using an ultrasonic wave that is output at a first frequency from an ultrasonic sensor 611. If a human is detected in the detection area A1, the image forming apparatus 10 switches the frequency of the ultrasonic wave that is output from the ultrasonic sensor 611 to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency, and is controlled to detect the human in a second range (detection area A2) that is smaller than the detection area A1. When a human is detected in the detection area A2, data communication is started using the ultrasonic wave output from the ultrasonic sensor 611.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventor: Michio Fukushima
  • Patent number: 9906673
    Abstract: The distance between an image forming apparatus and an object located around the apparatus is detected, and the apparatus is returned from a power-saving state when the distance becomes shorter than a predetermined distance. Also, the image forming apparatus is returned from a power saving state, even if the distance is longer than the predetermined distance, in a case where the detected distance decreases for every predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Michio Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20180034995
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including: a sound wave sensor that outputs a sound wave and receives a reflected wave of the output sound wave; a control unit configured to measure an amplitude of a sound wave, at predetermined time intervals, which is received by the sound wave sensor after the sound wave sensor outputs a sound wave; and a power control unit configured to shift the information processing apparatus from a first power state into a second power state where power consumption is larger than that in the first power state, on a basis that the amplitude of the sound wave measured by the control unit is larger than or equal to a threshold value, wherein in a case where a number of times amplitude of a sound wave measured by the control unit is larger than or equal to the threshold value during a predetermined period of time is larger than or equal to a predetermined number of times, the control unit maintains the power state of the information processing apparatus in the first power state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada, Yusuke Horishita, Michio Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20180031670
    Abstract: There is provided a printed circuit board, on which a piezoelectric element for generating vibration is mounted, is fixed to a pedestal. Two slits are formed on a straight line that connects first position where the piezoelectric element is mounted on the printed circuit board and a second position where the printed circuit board is in contact with the pedestal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Michio Fukushima, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada, Yusuke Horishita
  • Publication number: 20180032022
    Abstract: A human presence sensor unit in which an ultrasonic wave sensor is mounted is fixed to a frame sheet metal of an image forming apparatus with a pedestal interposed therebetween. The pedestal is made of a synthetic resin material, and the frame sheet metal is made of a metal material. As the pedestal and the frame sheet metal are made of different materials, a difference in the acoustic impedance is produced between the pedestal and the frame sheet metal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Manabu Hada, Michio Fukushima, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Yusuke Horishita
  • Publication number: 20180031684
    Abstract: An MFP includes a substrate on which an ultrasonic sensor that outputs a sound wave through vibration is mounted, a horn in a tubular shape configured to limit an output direction of the sound wave output from the ultrasonic sensor, and a buffer member provided between a surface of the substrate on a side on which the ultrasonic sensor is provided and an opening on one side of the horn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Yusuke Horishita, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada, Michio Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20180032013
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus measures the distance between the image forming apparatus and an object located in the periphery of the image forming apparatus each predetermined amount of time. Then, whether or not the object is a human is detected on the basis of the measured distance and a moving amount of the object each predetermined amount of time. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus controls the power supply state of the image forming apparatus in accordance with the result of the human detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Michio Fukushima, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada, Yusuke Horishita
  • Publication number: 20180034988
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a sonic wave output unit that outputs a sonic wave. A horn restricts an output direction of the sonic wave output from the sonic wave output unit. A cover member is provided on the sonic wave output unit, wherein a region on the cover member corresponding to an opening of the horn is provided with a horizontally arranged slit having a width equal to or larger than a horizontal width of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada, Yusuke Horishita, Michio Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20180031700
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including: a sonic sensor that outputs a sonic wave and receives a reflected wave of the output sonic wave; and a control unit configured to determine whether a person exists on a periphery of the information processing apparatus based on distance data and background data, wherein the distance data indicates intensity of a reflected wave in fixed time units received by the sonic sensor during a predetermined period of time after a sonic wave is output from the sonic sensor, the fixed time units being obtained by dividing the predetermined period of time, and the background data is past distance data prepared in advance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Yusuke Horishita, Michio Fukushima, Junnosuke Yokoyama, Manabu Hada
  • Publication number: 20170041483
    Abstract: The distance between an image forming apparatus and an object located around the apparatus is detected, and the apparatus is returned from a power-saving state when the distance becomes shorter than a predetermined distance. Also, the image forming apparatus is returned from a power saving state, even if the distance is longer than the predetermined distance, in a case where the detected distance decreases for every predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventor: Michio Fukushima