Patents by Inventor Minoru Kawabata
Minoru Kawabata 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).
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Patent number: 6215529Abstract: Aiming to improve color reproducibility of a red part having high color saturation, a gamma compensation apparatus of the present invention is composed of a bending point setting block 100a and a gamma compensation block 101a and bending point setting block 100a is composed of a high APL detection circuit 1a inputting an average picture level of an input luminance signal and for detecting and taking out a signal component higher than a designated level; a gain controller 2a for gain controlling the detected signal at the high APL picture detection circuit; and an adder 3a for adding a designated offset to the output of gain controller 2a, and gamma compensation block 101a is composed of a slice circuit 4a inputting a color difference signal (R-Y) and the output of bending point setting block 100a and taking out a color difference signal component higher than the output signal level of bending point setting block 100a; a gain controller 5a for adjusting the output level of slice circuit 4a; and a subtracter 6aType: GrantFiled: March 5, 1998Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.Inventors: Hiroko Sugimoto, Atsuhisa Kageyama, Masahiro Takeshima, Minoru Kawabata
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Patent number: 6064447Abstract: Red color saturation is increased and red color with higher purity can be reproduced by composing: a red color detection circuit 1 for detecting a red color signal having higher purity by inputting color differential signals (R-Y) and (B-Y) modulated by color subcarrier, subtracting the absolute value of the (B-Y) signal from the positive polarity component of the (R-Y) signal and removing the negative part of the subtracted signal; Y signal compensation block including: first gain controller 50b for controlling the output signal amplitude of red color detection circuit 1 and a subtracter 50a for subtracting the output signal of first gain controller 50b from a luminance signal Y; an (R-Y) signal compensation block including: second gain controller 51b for controlling the output signal amplitude of red color detection circuit 1 and an adder 51a for adding the output signal of second gain controller 51b and the input (R-Y) signal; and a (B-Y) signal compensation block including: third gain controller 52b for cType: GrantFiled: March 5, 1998Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroko Sugimoto, Atsuhisa Kageyama, Masahiro Takeshima, Minoru Kawabata
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Patent number: 6038341Abstract: A histogram operating unit comprises: histogram generator which receives input video signals, and creates a histogram of input video signals, a first limiter for receiving a histogram generated by the histogram generator and an externally set first limit level, and restricting the frequency of the histogram created by the histogram generator to within a specified level, and outputting a restricted histogram, a first totaling circuit for calculating the number of samples of video signals produced by the first limiter, second totaling circuit for calculating the number of samples of the input video signals, a first subtractor for subtracting the output of the first totaling circuit from the output of the second totaling circuit, and a corrected histogram generator which receives the output of the first limiter and the output of the first subtractor, and creates the corrected histogram.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1998Date of Patent: March 14, 2000Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masahiro Takeshima, Atsuhisa Kageyama, Minoru Kawabata, Hiroko Sugimoto
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Patent number: 5748257Abstract: A picture information detecting apparatus includes a picture area signal output circuit to detect a picture area excluding black band portions from the input video signal to produce a picture area signal to designate the picture area from which picture information is detected. Also included is a picture information detecting circuit for detecting picture information from the input video signal in the designated area. A picture quality compensating circuit is also provided for compensating the video input signal using the detected picture information to produce the gradation compensated video signal. An EDTV 2 discriminating circuit may also be included to determine if the video input signal is an EDTV 2 signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1997Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Kawabata, Atsuhisa Kageyama
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Patent number: 5502508Abstract: A gradation compensating apparatus comprises a skin color detecting circuit for detecting a skin color signal from an inputted color difference signal, a compensation amount controlling circuit for controlling the signal level by the skin color detecting signal as a compensating signal, an APL detecting circuit for detecting an APL level from an inputted luminance signal and for outputting the detected APL level as an APL voltage, an APL controlling circuit for controlling the compensating signal level by the APL voltage, an output circuit for outputting a compensating output voltage by controlling the compensating signal with an inputted dc voltage, and a CRT driving circuit for controlling the brightness of the picture by using the compensating output voltage as a cutoff reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1994Date of Patent: March 26, 1996Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Minoru Kawabata, Atsuhisa Kageyama
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Patent number: 5211069Abstract: The meshing between a rack which moves according to steering operation and a sector gear meshed with the rack is adjusted by the movement of an output shaft in its own axis direction which is united with the sector gear. A through hole is formed along the axis center line of the output shaft, and a threaded shaft is inserted into the through hole. The threaded shaft is screwed into the output shaft. One end of the threaded shaft is accessible for rotating from the side where a steering mechanism member is mounted. The other end of the threaded shaft is connected to a housing in a manner that the threaded shaft is rotatable around in its own axis but that the threaded shaft is unmovable in its own axis direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1992Date of Patent: May 18, 1993Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shunichi Wada, Minoru Kawabata
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Patent number: 4471811Abstract: A solenoid-operated valve particularly for use in a speed-responsive power steering system on a motor vehicle comprises a valve housing having two ports opening into a bore in the housing, a spool axially slidable in the bore and slot defining a bypass passageway extending between the two ports and variable in cross section upon axial movement of the spool. The spool is spring-biased in a direction to close the bypass passageway, but attractable by an energized solenoid to open the bypass passageway when the solenoid is supplied with an electric current dependent on the speed of travel of the vehicle. The spool has therein a restrictor disposed in the bypass passageway adjacent to the slot to restrict the flow of a fluid through the bypass passageway into and out of the bore in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1982Date of Patent: September 18, 1984Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Minoru Kawabata, Mikio Suzuki, Yutaka Mori
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Patent number: 4380472Abstract: Method for producing a pressure plate used in a hydraulic pump by connecting first and second plate sections together include the steps of pressing metal powders to individually form the first and second plate sections and a ring member into predetermined configurations, placing the first plate section properly on the second plate section while the ring member is inserted in a bore formed in the first plate section, placing brazing metal along the upper side diameter of the bore, and heating the first and second plate sections and the ring member so as to connect the first and second plate sections and the ring member together by the brazing metal and simultaneously sintering the same.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1980Date of Patent: April 19, 1983Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Minoru Kawabata, Susumu Honaga, Kenji Takahashi
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Patent number: 4347048Abstract: A vane type hydraulic pump for use in a power steering apparatus comprising a pump housing receiving therein a non-rotatable cam ring and non-rotatable but axially slidable pressure plate and subplate. A pump rotor rotatable integrally with a drive shaft is received in an internal cam bore of the cam ring and, when rotated, delivers pressurized fluid to a discharge port connected to the power steering apparatus. The pressure plate and subplate define at a contact portion therebetween a radial low pressure passage, which is fluidically communicated with an axial low pressure hole receiving fluid from a pump reservoir and bypassed fluid from a flow volume control valve. The radially outer portions of the low pressure passage are gradually curved in a direction of rotation of the pump rotor.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1980Date of Patent: August 31, 1982Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Minoru Kawabata, Susumu Honaga, Yoshiharu Inaguma
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Patent number: 4274504Abstract: In a power steering device for a vehicle, a first spool valve member is slidably received in a valve housing and is supplied with a steering pressure generated in response to a manual steering torque. A second spool valve member is slidably received in the first spool valve member and is supplied with a control pressure depending upon a vehicle speed. Bypass means is formed on the first and second spool valve members to be actuated by the control pressure to communicate both cylinder chambers of a manual steering torque supplementing hydraulic actuator with each other. Relative displacement between the first and second spool valve members is caused by the steering pressure to act to close the bypass means.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1979Date of Patent: June 23, 1981Assignees: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki K., Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Minoru Kawabata, Mikio Suzuki, Kenji Takahashi
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Patent number: 4220072Abstract: A power steering apparatus comprises a main valve member rotating in response to the action of a fluid pressure motor supplementing manual steering torque and a flap valve member rotating in response to the manual steering torque and mounted within the main valve member. The main valve member and the flap valve member are operable to control flow of fluid under pressure supplied into and discharged from the fluid pressure motor. A plunger member is slidably received in the flap valve member and is provided with an anti-vibration member. A passage communicating with a fluid supply port is provided for applying fluid under pressure to the plunger member to urge the anti-vibration member against the main valve member.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1978Date of Patent: September 2, 1980Assignees: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akio Numazawa, Minoru Kawabata, Ryutaro Abe, Mikio Suzuki, Yoshiharu Inaguma
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Patent number: 4173152Abstract: A continuously variable speed converter is provided wherein a plurality of balls are interposed between a pair of friction discs for transmitting rotation of an input shaft to an output shaft connected with a fluid pump. A speed change mechanism is arranged to tilt the rotational axis of each of the balls in each plane, including the axis of the input shaft, to thereby change the output/input speed ratio. Disposed within a main housing carrying the input and output shafts is the fluid pump, which also serves as a pressuring means responsive to fluid delivered by itself so as to apply to the output shaft a thrust force corresponding to the pressure of the fluid, so that efficient power transmission without slippage may be provided between the friction discs and the balls.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1977Date of Patent: November 6, 1979Assignees: Toyoda-Koki Kabushiki-Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yukio Kondo, Minoru Kawabata, Mikio Suzuki
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Patent number: 4170438Abstract: A continuously variable speed converter is incorporated in a main housing of a fluid pump and is drivingly connected at an output shaft thereof to a pump rotor so as to transmit the driving power of an engine to the pump rotor at various output/input speed ratios. An actuator is operatively connected at its piston to a speed change mechanism of the speed converter and is responsive to pressurized fluids, which are delivered from the pump, respectively, through and not through a throttle element provided on an outlet passage of the pump. The piston is biased by means of a spring to operate the speed change mechanism to maintain constant the pressure difference between fluids before and behind the throttle element, so that fluid may be delivered from the pump approximately at a predetermined flow rate regardless of changes in engine rotational speed.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 1977Date of Patent: October 9, 1979Assignees: Toyoda-Koki Kabushiki-Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yukio Kondo, Minoru Kawabata, Mikio Suzuki
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Patent number: 4048904Abstract: A servo valve device in a power steering apparatus of a vehicle, which has a main valve member provided with two valve chambers and disposed to rotate in response to one of the action of a fluid pressure motor supplementing manual steering torque and a manual steering torque, and which has two flap valve members respectively located in the two valve chambers and disposed to rotate in response to the other of the action of the fluid pressure motor and the manual steering torque for controlling fluid under pressure for the fluid pressure motor. The two valve chambers are formed by fluid-tightly partitioning an axial slot formed within the main valve member at a plane containing the rotational axis thereof, and the two flap valve members are integrally formed with each other.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1976Date of Patent: September 20, 1977Assignee: Toyoda-Koki Kabushiki-KaishaInventors: Minoru Kawabata, Kenji Takahashi
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Patent number: 3948338Abstract: A power steering apparatus for a vehicle comprising: a hydraulic actuator for supplementing manual steering torque; a first valve means for controlling directions of pressure fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator in response to manual steering; a second valve means for reducing the supplementing force of the hydraulic actuator by by-passing the pressure fluid; a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting the cruising speed of the vehicle; first switching means responsive to the vehicle speed detecting means for supplying electric energy to the second valve means when the cruising speed exceeds a predetermined value; and second switching means for decreasing electric energy supplied to the second valve means when the second valve means starts to by-pass the pressure fluid.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1974Date of Patent: April 6, 1976Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tohru Toshioka, Minoru Kawabata, Toshimaso Miyata