Patents by Inventor Minoru Higuchi

Minoru Higuchi 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).

  • Publication number: 20200387724
    Abstract: A driver state detection device includes at least two state detection units that include a first state detection unit and a second state detection unit that detect a state of a driver of a vehicle, in which the first state detection unit and the second state detection unit are disposed at positions between which the driver is interposed in a vehicle width direction, and the first state detection unit and the second state detection unit are disposed in front of a rear end of a driver's seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Masaki Maruyama, Minoru Higuchi, Shinichi Murakami, Toshihiro Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20190221696
    Abstract: This photovoltaic power generation device is provided with: a mounting bracket which is fixed to a roof and on which a frame, arranged on the ridge-side end of a solar cell module, and a frame, arranged on the eave-side end of a solar cell module, are mounted; and a fixing bracket which is arranged in the space between the frame and the frame, and which is fixed to the mounting bracket and holds said frames from above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Kubo, Tomohide Yoshida, Mamoru Arimoto, Naofumi Hayashi, Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20190222170
    Abstract: This photovoltaic power generation device is provided with: a mounting bracket which is fixed to a roof and on which a frame, arranged on the ridge-side end of a solar cell module, and a frame, arranged on the eave-side end of a solar cell module, are mounted; and a securing bracket for securing the frames to the mounting bracket. The ridge-side edge of the mounting bracket is inclined in the eaves-ridge direction and the girder direction of the roof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Lt d.
    Inventors: Koichi Kubo, Naofumi Hayashi, Minoru Higuchi
  • Patent number: 9800200
    Abstract: This solar cell apparatus is provided with: a long mounting frame having a guide rail section in an upper portion; and a fixing member, which is provided by being slid and moved in the longitudinal direction of the mounting frame, and which is fixed at a predetermined position of the mounting frame. The fixing member has: a base section that engages with the guide rail section; an upright wall section that is provided to stand on the base section; and insertion sections that extend from the upright wall section such that the insertion sections are inserted into a module frame of an eave-side solar cell module and a module frame of a ridge-side solar cell module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Higuchi, Yutaka Arai, Mamoru Arimoto, Ryo Goto, Koichi Kubo, Yoshihide Kawashita
  • Publication number: 20170019059
    Abstract: This solar cell apparatus is provided with: a long mounting frame having a guide rail section in an upper portion; and a fixing member, which is provided by being slid and moved in the longitudinal direction of the mounting frame, and which is fixed at a predetermined position of the mounting frame. The fixing member has: a base section that engages with the guide rail section; an upright wall section that is provided to stand on the base section; and insertion sections that extend from the upright wall section such that the insertion sections are inserted into a module frame of an eave-side solar cell module and a module frame of a ridge-side solar cell module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Higuchi, Yutaka Arai, Mamoru Arimoto, Ryo Goto, Koichi Kubo, Yoshihide Kawashita
  • Patent number: 8095272
    Abstract: A rotatable grip (ancillary operation member) is provided on a part of a steering wheel body of a steering wheel (main operation member) for turning wheels. When the grip is rotated, a difference is generated between left and right wheels, and a yaw moment generated with this difference can assist or suppress the turning of a vehicle. Because the grip constitutes a part of the steering wheel body, it is possible to rotate the grip to assist or suppress the turning of the vehicle, while operating the steering wheel to turn the vehicle. Because both the steering wheel body and the grip can be operated by the same hand of a driver, operational burden on the driver is alleviated. Thus, it is possible to concurrently provide an excellent operability of the main operation member for controlling a kinetic state of the vehicle, and an excellent operability of the ancillary operation member for controlling the operation of a yaw moment generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuasa Suzuki, Minoru Higuchi, Yasuji Shibahata
  • Patent number: 8026653
    Abstract: A display device provided with a screen, comprising: an optical filter having a blind sheet that comprises a plurality of semitranslucent layers having translucence arranged side-by-side extending in a horizontal direction and having a predetermined thickness in a vertical direction, and a plurality of transparent layers which are disposed between the semitranslucent layers and which are of a higher translucency than that of the semitranslucent layers and of a greater thickness than the thickness of the semitranslucent layers; and an adhesive member for sticking the optical filter to the screen, wherein the ratio of the transmittance of a limit angle of the screen with respect to the transmittance of the optical filter at the center of the screen is at least 0.10 and not more than 0.50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Oishi, Minoru Higuchi, Takahide Fujimoto, Akihiko Horita, Ryusuke Fukushima, Eishi Mizobata
  • Publication number: 20110192449
    Abstract: This invention provides a photovoltaic module for preventing insulation failure between an outer frame and connection leads. The photovoltaic module comprises: a photovoltaic submodule including a plurality of solar cells interposed between two light-transmitting substrates through the intermediary of an encapsulant and the connection leads extending from an edge between light-transmitting substrates and outputting generated electric currents; a terminal box attached near an edge of the photovoltaic submodule and housing connected parts between the connection leads and cables for outputting the electric currents to the outside; and an outer frame fitting over peripheral edges of the photovoltaic submodule. A side, of the light-receiving side light-transmitting substrate, from which the connection leads are pulled out, is made large so as to extend outward further than the other light-transmitting substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Higuchi, Masaru Hikosaka, Atsushi Nakauchi, Hiroyuki Oda, Shingo Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7952016
    Abstract: This invention provides a photovoltaic module for preventing insulation failure between an outer frame and connection leads. The photovoltaic module comprises: a photovoltaic submodule including a plurality of solar cells interposed between two light-transmitting substrates through the intermediary of an encapsulant and the connection leads extending from an edge between light-transmitting substrates and outputting generated electric currents; a terminal box attached near an edge of the photovoltaic submodule and housing connected parts between the connection leads and cables for outputting the electric currents to the outside; and an outer frame fitting over peripheral edges of the photovoltaic submodule. A side, of the light-receiving side light-transmitting substrate, from which the connection leads are pulled out, is made large so as to extend outward further than the other light-transmitting substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Higuchi, Masaru Hikosaka, Atsushi Nakauchi, Hiroyuki Oda, Shingo Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7615781
    Abstract: There is a room for improvement in conventional semiconductor devices in terms of reducing the chip area. A semiconductor device 1 comprises an evaluation transistor 10 (first characteristic evaluation device), an evaluation transistor (second characteristic evaluation device), measurement pads 30 (first measurement pads) and measurement pads 40 (second measurement pads). The measurement pad 30 and the measurement pad 40 are provided in different layers in the interconnect layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20080084110
    Abstract: A rotatable grip (ancillary operation member) is provided on a part of a steering wheel body of a steering wheel (main operation member) for turning wheels. When the grip is rotated, a difference is generated between left and right wheels, and a yaw moment generated with this difference can assist or suppress the turning of a vehicle. Because the grip constitutes a part of the steering wheel body, it is possible to rotate the grip to assist or suppress the turning of the vehicle, while operating the steering wheel to turn the vehicle. Because both the steering wheel body and the grip can be operated by the same hand of a driver, operational burden on the driver is alleviated. Thus, it is possible to concurrently provide an excellent operability of the main operation member for controlling a kinetic state of the vehicle, and an excellent operability of the ancillary operation member for controlling the operation of a yaw moment generating device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuasa Suzuki, Minoru Higuchi, Yasuji Shibahata
  • Patent number: 7340334
    Abstract: A control device of a variable damping force damper for controlling a damping force of a damper used in a vehicle suspension system comprises: relative displacement detection means for detecting a value corresponding to a relative displacement between a vehicle body and a wheel in a vertical direction; relative speed detection means for detecting a value corresponding to a relative speed between the vehicle body and the wheel in the vertical direction; multiplying means for multiplying the value corresponding to the relative displacement and the value corresponding to the relative speed; and means for setting a damping force control target value of the damper based on the output from the multiplying means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Izawa, Takafumi Kato, Takashi Furuichi, Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20080009992
    Abstract: A control device of a variable damping force damper for controlling a damping force of a damper used in a vehicle suspension system comprises: relative displacement detection means for detecting a value corresponding to a relative displacement between a vehicle body and a wheel in a vertical direction; relative speed detection means for detecting a value corresponding to a relative speed between the vehicle body and the wheel in the vertical direction; multiplying means for multiplying the value corresponding to the relative displacement and the value corresponding to the relative speed; and means for setting a damping force control target value of the damper based on the output from the multiplying means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: Masaki Izawa, Takafumi Kato, Takashi Furuichi, Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20070131931
    Abstract: There is a room for improvement in conventional semiconductor devices in terms of reducing the chip area. A semiconductor device 1 comprises an evaluation transistor 10 (first characteristic evaluation device), an evaluation transistor (second characteristic evaluation device), measurement pads 30 (first measurement pads) and measurement pads 40 (second measurement pads). The measurement pad 30 and the measurement pad 40 are provided in different layers in the interconnect layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20070056625
    Abstract: This invention provides a photovoltaic module for preventing insulation failure between an outer frame and connection leads. The photovoltaic module comprises: a photovoltaic submodule including a plurality of solar cells interposed between two light-transmitting substrates through the intermediary of an encapsulant and the connection leads extending from an edge between light-transmitting substrates and outputting generated electric currents; a terminal box attached near an edge of the photovoltaic submodule and housing connected parts between the connection leads and cables for outputting the electric currents to the outside; and an outer frame fitting over peripheral edges of the photovoltaic submodule. A side, of the light-receiving side light-transmitting substrate, from which the connection leads are pulled out, is made large so as to extend outward further than the other light-transmitting substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Higuchi, Masaru Hikosaka, Atsushi Nakauchi, Hiroyuki Oda, Shingo Okamoto
  • Patent number: 6646295
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including an insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET) has been disclosed. The IGFET may be formed in an element region defined by an element isolation region (14) formed on a semiconductor substrate (8). A covering portion (10) may cover at least a portion of an end (22) of the element region. Covering portion (10) may be formed essentially of the same material as a side wall (10) of a gate (12) of the IGFET. A source/drain region (18) may be formed using gate (12) and covering portion (10) as a mask. In this way, a distance between an intra-substrate high-concentration contour line (20) and source/drain region (18) in area of end (22) of the element region may remain sufficient and an IGFET breakdown voltage may be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20020113256
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including an insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET) has been disclosed. The IGFET may be formed in an element region defined by an element isolation region (14) formed on a semiconductor substrate (8). A covering portion (10) may cover at least a portion of an end (22) of the element region. Covering portion (10) may be formed essentially of the same material as a side wall (10) of a gate (12) of the IGFET. A source/drain region (18) may be formed using gate (12) and covering portion (10) as a mask. In this way, a distance between an intra-substrate high-concentration contour line (20) and source/drain region (18) in area of end (22) of the element region may remain sufficient and an IGFET breakdown voltage may be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Minoru Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20020093606
    Abstract: A display filter, which is arranged in alignment with a screen of a display unit, has a function of absorbing visible rays having a wavelength other than wavelengths of red, green and blue lights. For instance, the function is accomplished by a transparent substrate positioned in alignment with the screen, and a light absorber mixed in the transparent substrate, the light absorber absorbing visible rays having a wavelength other than wavelengths of red, green and blue lights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Higuchi
  • Patent number: 6376331
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is herein disclosed which comprises a plurality of element regions formed on a first conductive type semiconductor substrate, element isolation regions for isolating the element regions from each other, and gate electrodes on parts of the element regions, the element regions being in contact with the element isolation regions at side surfaces of the element regions, wherein in the element region under each gate electrode, the concentration of a first conductive type impurity is high in an element region top surface edge area (in the vicinity of 66), and on the side surfaces of each element region, except the portions under the gate electrode, the concentration of the first conductive type impurity is equal to or lower than that of the first conductive type impurity in the body of the element region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Higuchi
  • Patent number: 6309515
    Abstract: There is provided a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device for forming a silicide layer of metal of high melting point, wherein the metal of high melting point is processed in sputtering under a condition in which no deterioration is produced by the sputtering apparatus. There is also provided a sputtering apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor device. In the method of the present invention, a high melting point metal is accumulated on a silicon substrate formed with a gate electrode of a semiconductor element to form a metallic film of high melting point, thereafter it is heat treated to form a silicide layer of the high melting point metal at an interface layer with the metallic film with high melting point, and in this case, the metallic film of high melting point is accumulated in sputtering by a magnetron sputtering device under a condition in which an electrical load amount Q reaching to the gate electrode is less than 5 C/cm2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Inoue, Hitoshi Abiko, Minoru Higuchi