Patents by Inventor Minoru Fukushima

Minoru 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: 11083069
    Abstract: A microphone picks up a speech and outputs a speech signal. A lighting control unit recognizes the speech by performing speech recognition on the speech signal, thereby generating command data corresponding to the speech recognized. The lighting control unit controls a light fixture based on the command data. A state decision unit makes a state decision of the light fixture. A condition setting unit sets, depending on the state decision made by the state decision unit, a condition for a speech recognition unit to perform the speech recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Hanazono, Katsuhiko Kimura, Ryuji Natsume, Minoru Fukushima
  • Publication number: 20200205269
    Abstract: A microphone picks up a speech and outputs a speech signal. A lighting control unit recognizes the speech by performing speech recognition on the speech signal, thereby generating command data corresponding to the speech recognized. The lighting control unit controls a light fixture based on the command data. A state decision unit makes a state decision of the light fixture. A condition setting unit sets, depending on the state decision made by the state decision unit, a condition for a speech recognition unit to perform the speech recognition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Masaya HANAZONO, Katsuhiko KIMURA, Ryuji NATSUME, Minoru FUKUSHIMA
  • Publication number: 20170085598
    Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a first communication circuit, a second communication circuit, and a controller. The first communication circuit performs wireless communication with a gateway using a first communication system. The second communication circuit performs wireless communication with the gateway using a second communication system having a higher transmission speed than the first communication system. The controller is configured to activate the second communication circuit when the first communication circuit receives an activation request signal from the gateway, and to establish a link between the second communication circuit and the gateway when the first communication circuit receives a connection request signal from the gateway after the second communication circuit is activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Akihiko NISHIO, Minoru FUKUSHIMA, Keitaro HOSHIBA, Masanori KURITA, Kenji HARADA, Kazuhisa YOSHIKI, Gon MOZUMI, Dan HOVANG, Johan ZANDER
  • Patent number: 9031265
    Abstract: A piezoelectric speaker includes: a piezoelectric vibrator including a piezoelectric body formed of a piezoelectric element and a plate-shaped body which has a larger diameter than the piezoelectric body and which is attached to a surface of the piezoelectric body in a concentric form; and a film-shaped body that is provided around the piezoelectric vibrator so as to elastically hold the piezoelectric vibrator. The film-shaped body includes a coarse and dense portion in a circumferential direction thereof, which has a physically coarse portion which can become a mountain portion or a valley portion or both, and which is disposed so as to correspond to a natural frequency of an in-phase mode in which antinodes and nodes are formed in a concentric form. The piezoelectric vibrator and the film-shaped body form a sound producing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Fukushima, Kosaku Kitada, Osamu Akasaka, Akihiro Nishikawa
  • Publication number: 20110255718
    Abstract: A piezoelectric speaker includes: a piezoelectric vibrator including a piezoelectric body formed of a piezoelectric element and a plate-shaped body which has a larger diameter than the piezoelectric body and which is attached to a surface of the piezoelectric body in a concentric form; and a film-shaped body that is provided around the piezoelectric vibrator so as to elastically hold the piezoelectric vibrator. The film-shaped body includes a coarse and dense portion in a circumferential direction thereof, which has a physically coarse portion which can become a mountain portion or a valley portion or both, and which is disposed so as to correspond to a natural frequency of an in-phase mode in which antinodes and nodes are formed in a concentric form. The piezoelectric vibrator and the film-shaped body form a sound producing body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Fukushima, Kosaku Kitada, Osamu Akasaka, Akihiro Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7653644
    Abstract: The mapping data include a substituting element describing area, a repeat number describing area, and a repeat element describing area. In the substituting element describing area, it is described that the input data is set to which tag in the XML file. In the repeat number describing area, the repeat number specified in the repeat number specifying area is described. In the repeat element describing area, it is described that the tag name of the tag output repeatedly in the XML file. The hierarchy structure data generating system outputs the repeat tag to belong to the same rank as the tag of the repeat element describing area. On putting out the repeat tag, the hierarchy structure data generating system outputs it repeatedly the same number of times as the number of the value of the repeat number describing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Systems & Services, Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Fukushima, Morikuni Hasegawa, Shin Takagi
  • Publication number: 20060085467
    Abstract: The mapping data include a substituting element describing area, a repeat number describing area, and a repeat element describing area. In the substituting element describing area, it is described that the input data is set to which tag in the XML file. In the repeat number describing area, the repeat number specified in the repeat number specifying area is described. In the repeat element describing area, it is described that the tag name of the tag output repeatedly in the XML file. The hierarchy structure data generating system outputs the repeat tag to belong to the same rank as the tag of the repeat element describing area. On putting out the repeat tag, the hierarchy structure data generating system outputs it repeatedly the same number of times as the number of the value of the repeat number describing area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventors: Minoru Fukushima, Morikuni Hasegawa, Shin Takagi
  • Patent number: 5971788
    Abstract: An electrical connector has improved locking characteristics for mating with an opposing complementary connector component. The connector has an insulative housing with a series of walls defining a mating space which receives the complementary connector component. Terminals are arranged in the mating space to interconnect with the complementary connector component. Sidewalls have two distinct inner and outer sections wherein the inner sidewall section are flexible and include an engagement surface for engagement with the complementary connector component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Toshihiro Niitsu, Minoru Fukushima
  • Patent number: 5895287
    Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for terminating a flat cable. The connector includes a housing mounting a plurality of terminals in a generally parallel array. The housing has opposite sides and a front end, with an opening between the sides for receiving an end of the flat cable in engagement with contact portions of the terminals. A pressure member is rotatably mounted on the housing for movement between a first position allowing insertion of the flat cable into the opening and a second position pressing conductors of the flat cable against the contact portions of the terminals. Overhanging extensions project inwardly from the opposite sides of the housing to prevent release of the flat cable from the connector in the event undesired external forces are applied to the cable which would tend to bias the pressure member toward its first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Masashi Seto, Shinsuke Kunishi, Minoru Fukushima
  • Patent number: 5741154
    Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for connecting a flat cable. The connector includes a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. The housing has a front end adapted for receiving the flat cable in engagement with the terminals, a rear end and opposite sides. An actuator is pivotally mounted on the housing for pivotal movement between a first position allowing insertion of the flat cable into engagement with the terminals and a second position biasing the cable against the terminals. An independent engagement part is mounted on the housing and includes a pivot about which the actuator is pivotable between said positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Mitsuo Fujikura, Shinsuke Kunishi, Minoru Fukushima
  • Patent number: 5735696
    Abstract: A connector which is particularly suitable for angled, surface mount connections has improved anti-solder and/or flux wicking characteristics which substantially prevent the contamination of contact portions of the connector terminals. Terminals for the connector are provided which have a housing engagement portion at one end and a bifurcated portion at the other end. The bifurcated end portion includes a contact portion and a solder tail portion which are separated by an irregular intervening space of varying width. The depth and the varying width cooperate to prevent the wicking of molten solder and/or flux to the contact surface of the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Toshihiro Niitsu, Minoru Fukushima
  • Patent number: 5695359
    Abstract: A zero force electrical connector is adapted for terminating a flat cable. The connector includes a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. The housing has a first end adapted for receiving the flat cable in engagement with the terminals, a rear end and opposite sides. An actuator is mounted to the housing for movement between a first position allowing free insertion of the cable into engagement with the terminals and a second position biasing the cable against the terminals. Complementary interengaging stops are provided between the housing and the actuator near the rear end of the housing for limiting rotation of the actuator relative to the housing in a first direction. Complementary interengaging latches are provided between the housing and the actuator near the front end of the housing for preventing rotation of the actuator relative to the housing in a second direction opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Mitsuo Fujikura, Minoru Fukushima, Shinsuke Kunishi, Masashi Seto
  • Patent number: 5651704
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a plurality of generally parallel elongated terminal-receiving cavities. An opening is formed in a side wall of the housing intersecting the cavities and communicating therewith. A plurality of elongated terminals are insertable into the cavities. Each terminal includes a latching projection. A terminal retainer is positionable in the opening in a direction transverse to the cavities. The retainer includes a plurality of elongated ribs projecting into the cavities and engaging the elongated terminals. At least certain ends of the elongated ribs include camming surfaces for engaging the latching projections on the terminals and moving the terminals to fully inserted positions in the event that the terminals are in only partially inserted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Minoru Fukushima, Haruo Hiramoto, Katsutoshi Toujou
  • Patent number: 5340319
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in an electric connector for connecting two spaced apart parallel printed circuit boards having a plurality of needle-like pin terminals arranged laterally at regular intervals between its upper and lower wafers, the upper and lower extensions of the needle-like pin terminals extend beyond the upper and lower wafers being connected to selected conductors on upper and lower printed circuit boards. According to the present invention the needle-like pin terminals freely pass through the longitudinal pin-receiving openings made in the upper and lower wafers, and metal tie rods are press-fit in opposite longitudinal rod-insertion apertures made at the opposite ends of the upper and lower wafers, and are detachably fixed thereto, thereby constituting a rigid integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Masahiro Enomoto, Minoru Fukushima
  • Patent number: 5306169
    Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed with a contact housing for receiving terminal mating sections of a plurality of terminals and a tail housing, separate from the contact housing, for receiving solder tail sections of the terminals. A flexible connecting section is formed between the terminal mating and solder tail sections of each terminal. A protective bar extends from the terminal mating section toward the tail housing. An arm extends from the protective bar which is inserted into a mounting recess formed in the tail housing without contacting any surfaces of the mounting recess under normal conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Minoru Fukushima, Shinichi Tadokoro, Masahiro Henmi
  • Patent number: 5306182
    Abstract: An electric connector female terminal assures steady contact between a male terminal irrespective of the position and angle of insertion of the male terminal. The female terminal comprises a pair of contact beams defining a path completely through the female terminal for accommodating a male terminal. A connecting piece is integrally formed with the contact beams and extending therebetween, the connecting piece being positioned out of the path for accommodating the male terminal and incorporating resilient means for resiliently biasing the contact beams carrying the contact points to a predetermined initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Minoru Fukushima, Shinichi Aihara
  • Patent number: 5145384
    Abstract: An electrical contact is disclosed for use in an electrical connector to be surface mounted to a printed circuit board. The contact includes an inverted U-shaped portion defining a pair of depending legs. One of the legs has a foot portion for electrical connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the printed circuit board. A terminal portion is turned upwardly from a distal end of the other leg for termination with an appropriate mating terminal. The contact is in the form of a one-piece metal component. In the preferred embodiment, the terminal portion of the contact is in the form of a terminal pin, with the pin and the legs of the inverted U-shaped portion of the contact all being generally parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Kazushige Asakawa, Minoru Fukushima, Mitsuo Fujikura
  • Patent number: 5116247
    Abstract: Disclosed is a board-to-board electric connector using terminals whose width is same in size as the thickness of metal sheet from which terminals are stamped out, thereby permitting reduction of terminal pitch to possible minimum simply by selecting the metal sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Masahiro Enomoto, Minoru Fukushima, Shinichi Aihara
  • Patent number: 5112235
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical connector comprising a multi-terminal plug and multi-terminal socket in which each female terminal is composed of a contact section, a solder tail section and intermediate curved joint integrally connected to the contact section and the soldering tail section. The curved joint of each female terminal will be yieldingly bent when an external force is applied to push the male terminal in the female terminal, thereby absorbing the external force and preventing deformation of the solder tail section, and hence peeling-off or cracking of solder at the solder tail. The intermediate curved section will also permit the contact section to float in order to compensate for the misalignment of the contact section relative to its mating pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Masahiro Enomoto, Minoru Fukushima
  • Patent number: 5037316
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved board-surface mounting type electric connector whose pin terminals are designed to be soldered to a printed circuit pattern by their tail sections. Each tail section is composed of a soldering portion, an intermediate stepwise joint and a non-soldering portion. The soldering portion of the tail section is laid on the printed board, and the non-soldering portion is laid on an isolation wall at a level higher than the printed board, thus leaving space between the printed board and the non-soldering portion available for printing desired circuit patterns. Connector housing may have at least one stopper to abut on the upper surface of each soldering portion for preventing it from rising, thereby keeping each soldering portion stable in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Minoru Fukushima, Shinsuke Kunishi, Kazuhige Asakawa