Patents by Inventor Mikihisa Inoue

Mikihisa Inoue 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: 6224007
    Abstract: A first tape cassette adapted to be interchangeably used with a second tape cassette of a different thick case thickness is provided. A first tape cassette includes a first case having a first total thickness. The first case having a bottom face which is formed with an indentation and a first depression formed within the indentation. The indentation is used for positioning the cassette in a plane parallel to its bottom face. The second tape cassette includes a second case having a second total thickness that is smaller than the first total thickness of the first case. The second case has a bottom face which is formed with a second reference depression opened towards the bottom face. The second reference depression is for positioning the second tape cassette in a plane parallel to its bottom face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignees: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kaku, Seiji Ono, Yoshimi Maehara, Mikihisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 6061213
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a casing having a tape chamber defined therein for accommodating a reeled magnetic recording tape and, also, box arms protruding outwardly from a front wall section of the casing so as to leave a loading bay that opens upwardly, frontwardly and downwardly and is thus delimited by upwardly, frontwardly and downwardly oriented open areas. The casing includes a lid assembly for selectively concealing and exposing that portion of magnetic recording tape and including front, top and rear lids operatively linked together. The front and top lids are adapted to selectively open and close the frontwardly and upwardly oriented open areas of the loading bay, respectively, while the rear lid is positioned within the loading bay and adapted to selectively open and close a space delimited between the front and the rear lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignees: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hikaru Mizutani, Mikihisa Inoue, Kenmei Masuda, Hidekazu Takeda
  • Patent number: 5927632
    Abstract: A tape cassette which can maintain stably the accuracy of the reference planes for determining the height of the tape cassette and which allows enhancement in accuracy of positioning, height positioning reference planes being provided inwardly a specified distance apart from an outside casing surface of the tape cassette such that the reference plane for determining the height of the tape cassette relative to the apparatus is not provided on the outside casing surface of the tape cassette, thus the reference planes remain free from contact with any mechanism for loading the tape cassette or with any foreign matter in transport, thus the reference planes can be kept free from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignees: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kaku, Seiji Ono, Yoshimi Maehara, Mikihisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 5706146
    Abstract: A cassette transport configuration provides a cassette insertion slot for introducing a cassette cartridge, guide rails for guiding and positioning each cassette cartridge and a plurality of cassette detecting elements for detecting the correct positioning of each cassette. The detecting elements are spaced apart on an upper inner portion of the insertion slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignees: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Ono, Nobuyuki Kaku, Noriaki Masuda, Yoshimi Maehara, Mikihisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 5702062
    Abstract: A tape cassette which can maintain stably the accuracy of the reference planes for determining the height of the tape cassette and which allows enhancement in accuracy of positioning, height positioning reference planes being provided inwardly a specified distance apart from an outside casing surface of the tape cassette such that the reference plane for determining the height of the tape cassette relative to the apparatus is not provided on the outside casing surface of the tape cassette, thus the reference planes remain free from contact with any mechanism for loading the tape cassette or with any foreign matter in transport. Thus, the reference planes can be kept free from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignees: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd, Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kaku, Seiji Ono, Yoshimi Maehara, Mikihisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 5687047
    Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a casing having a tape chamber defined therein for accommodating a reeled magnetic recording tape and, also, box arms protruding outwardly from a front wall section of the casing so as to leave a loading bay that opens upwardly, frontwardly and downwardly and is thus delimited by upwardly, frontwardly and downwardly oriented open areas. The casing includes a lid assembly for selectively concealing and exposing that portion of magnetic recording tape and including front, top and rear lids operatively linked together. The front and top lids are adapted to selectively open and close the frontwardly and upwardly oriented open areas of the loading bay, respectively, while the rear lid is positioned within the loading bay and adapted to selectively open and close a space delimited between the front and the rear lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignees: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hikaru Mizutani, Mikihisa Inoue, Kenmei Masuda, Hidekazu Takeda
  • Patent number: 5537279
    Abstract: A tape cassette comprising an insertion opening disposed in a main body case and a detecting optical path, for detecting the leading and rear ends of a tape, interposed between the insertion opening and an optical path window formed in the left and right side walls of the case, wherein a first distinguishing member, rotatably inserted into an upper portion of the insertion opening, is supported to be vertically slidable, and a mechanism for holding the first distinguishing member in each state is disposed between the first distinguishing member and the main body case, thereby to allow a tape deck to have a simple internal construction even though the tape cassette is of a smaller size, and to provide a construction of the detecting opening preferable for detecting cassette information so that the tape cassette can be used in a compatible form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignees: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Takeda, Nobuyuki Kaku, Tomochika Yamashita, Yoshimi Maehara, Mikihisa Inoue, Hikaru Mizutani
  • Patent number: 5295637
    Abstract: A lid locking mechanism for a magnetic tape cassette intended to improve dust prevention and drip wherein a shutter for opening and closing of tape end detecting windows is integrally provided with a front lid stopper member for the tape cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignees: Hitachi Maxwell, Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidekazu Takeda, Nobuyuki Kaku, Yoshimi Maehara, Mikihisa Inoue