Patents by Inventor Minoru Matsuyama

Minoru Matsuyama 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: 20230327617
    Abstract: A sound output device of the present disclosure includes a controller, a power amplifier, a low-pass filter, and a speaker. The controller includes first and second low-pass filters configured to remove high-frequency components of a sound input signal and a sound output signal, a first peak detection unit configured to detect a peak current of the sound input signal from which the high-frequency component has been removed, a second peak detection unit configured to detect a peak current of the sound output signal from which the high-frequency component has been removed, and a comparison unit configured to compare the peak current with the peak current and determine connection or disconnection of the speaker when a level of the peak current is equal to or higher than a certain level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Minoru MATSUYAMA
  • Patent number: 10034090
    Abstract: A first fixed filter extracts high-frequency and low-frequency sound signals outside the audible band, and a level integrator integrates levels of the sound signals to obtain a first integrated value. With a second fixed filter, the level integrator integrates levels of sound signals in a low frequency band within the audible band to obtain a second integrated value. A control unit determines whether the high-frequency sound signals are dominant by comparing the first integrated value with the second integrated value. When the high-frequency sound signals are dominant, the control unit attenuates high-frequency speaker drive signals using a variable filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Maeda, Minoru Matsuyama, Masashi Saito
  • Patent number: 9930450
    Abstract: An audio apparatus includes a signal processor, a power amplifier, a speaker, and a controller. A current consumption prediction unit in the controller predicts current consumption on the basis of a monitoring result of an output level monitoring unit in the signal processor and/or a monitoring result of a power supply voltage monitoring unit in the controller. A limiter control unit in the controller controls a limiter in the signal processor in a normal mode or a current limiting mode on the basis of predicted current consumption. In the current limiting mode, the limiter is controlled so that an attenuation speed higher than that in the normal mode and a threshold value smaller than that in the normal mode are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Minoru Matsuyama
  • Publication number: 20180063639
    Abstract: A first fixed filter extracts high-frequency and low-frequency sound signals outside the audible band, and a level integrator integrates levels of the sound signals to obtain a first integrated value. With a second fixed filter, the level integrator integrates levels of sound signals in a low frequency band within the audible band to obtain a second integrated value. A control unit determines whether the high-frequency sound signals are dominant by comparing the first integrated value with the second integrated value. When the high-frequency sound signals are dominant, the control unit attenuates high-frequency speaker drive signals using a variable filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Maeda, Minoru Matsuyama, Masashi Saito
  • Publication number: 20160360315
    Abstract: An audio apparatus includes a signal processor, a power amplifier, a speaker, and a controller. A current consumption prediction unit in the controller predicts current consumption on the basis of a monitoring result of an output level monitoring unit in the signal processor and/or a monitoring result of a power supply voltage monitoring unit in the controller. A limiter control unit in the controller controls a limiter in the signal processor in a normal mode or a current limiting mode on the basis of predicted current consumption. In the current limiting mode, the limiter is controlled so that an attenuation speed higher than that in the normal mode and a threshold value smaller than that in the normal mode are obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Applicant: ALPINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Minoru Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 9041412
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and devices for testing a connection between speakers and a power amplifier. The disclosed methods and devices solve a problem that, upon a connection test for a power amplifier which has a booster power source, when a midpoint potential of the power amplifier and the voltage of the speaker connection terminal are compared, and it is determined that short-circuiting occurs on a ground side when the potential of the speaker connection terminal is lower than the midpoint potential, a wrong test is conducted if a midpoint potential is higher than a battery voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Minoru Matsuyama, Taro Kitagawa
  • Publication number: 20120286798
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and devices for testing a connection between speakers and a power amplifier. The disclosed methods and devices solve a problem that, upon a connection test for a power amplifier which has a booster power source, when a midpoint potential of the power amplifier and the voltage of the speaker connection terminal are compared, and it is determined that short-circuiting occurs on a ground side when the potential of the speaker connection terminal is lower than the midpoint potential, a wrong test is conducted if a midpoint potential is higher than a battery voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Minoru Matsuyama, Taro Kitagawa