Patents by Inventor Mitsuru Sendouda

Mitsuru Sendouda 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: 8572812
    Abstract: A foldable portable information terminal includes an upper unit having a display unit on its one side, a lower unit having operation keys on its one side, and a movable connecting mechanism connecting the upper unit and the lower unit allowing the upper unit to be opened, closed, and freely rotated with respect to a longitudinal direction of the lower unit. The displaying mode of the display unit whose direction varies depending on a position of the upper unit is changed depending on a positional relationship of the upper unit and the lower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Kazuo Ohtsuta, Kiyoshi Kohayakawa, Michio Nagai, Mika Fujii, Masaki Shimamura, Mitsuru Sendouda
  • Patent number: 8082633
    Abstract: A portable device includes an upper unit, a lower unit having an operation section on an operation surface, and a movable connecting mechanism which connects the upper unit and the lower unit. The movable connecting mechanism includes a rotating hinge including a rotation axis which is securely and rotatably provided to the lower unit and which protrudes from the operation surface in a direction substantially normal to the operation surface, a projection protruding outward from the rotation axis, and a stopping member provided at a location where the projection comes in contact with the stopping member due to rotation of the rotation axis. The stopping member is movable within a predetermined range of movement due to the projection coming in contact with the stopping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Kazuo Ohtsuta, Kiyoshi Kohayakawa, Michio Nagai, Mika Fujii, Masaki Shimamura, Mitsuru Sendouda
  • Publication number: 20110028190
    Abstract: A portable device includes an upper unit, a lower unit having an operation section on an operation surface, and a movable connecting mechanism which connects the upper unit and the lower unit. The movable connecting mechanism includes a rotating hinge including a rotation axis which is securely and rotatably provided to the lower unit and which protrudes from the operation surface in a direction substantially normal to the operation surface, a projection protruding outward from the rotation axis, and a stopping member provided at a location where the projection comes in contact with the stopping member due to rotation of the rotation axis. The stopping member is movable within a predetermined range of movement due to the projection coming in contact with the stopping member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Kazuo Ohtsuta, Kiyoshi Kohayakawa, Michio Nagai, Mika Fujii, Masaki Shimamura, Mitsuru Sendouda
  • Publication number: 20090093283
    Abstract: A foldable portable information terminal includes an upper unit having a display unit on its one side, a lower unit having operation keys on its one side, and a movable connecting mechanism connecting the upper unit and the lower unit allowing the upper unit to be opened, closed, and freely rotated with respect to a longitudinal direction of the lower unit. The displaying mode of the display unit whose direction varies depending on a position of the upper unit is changed depending on a positional relationship of the upper unit and the lower unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Kazuo Ohtsuta, Kiyoshi Kohayakawa, Michio Nagai, Mika Fujii, Masaki Shimamura, Mitsuru Sendouda
  • Patent number: 7499737
    Abstract: A foldable portable information terminal includes an upper unit having a display unit on its one side, a lower unit having operation keys on its one side, and a movable connecting mechanism connecting the upper unit and the lower unit allowing the upper unit to be opened, closed, and freely rotated with respect to a longitudinal direction of the lower unit. The displaying mode of the display unit whose direction varies depending on a position of the upper unit is changed depending on a positional relationship of the upper unit and the lower unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Kazuo Ohtsuta, Kiyoshi Kohayakawa, Michio Nagai, Mika Fujii, Masaki Shimamura, Mitsuru Sendouda
  • Patent number: 7320153
    Abstract: A fold-type cellular phone has a top unit, a bottom unit and a hinge coupling together the top unit and the bottom unit while allowing the top unit to turn and swivel with respect to the bottom unit. The top unit is first unfolded from a first folded position to an attitude angle of 160 to 170 degrees, and swiveled by 180 degrees to be folded onto the bottom unit in a second folded position at an attitude angle of 180 degrees. The swivel movement of the top unit causes a cam assembly to turn the top unit from the attitude angle of 160-170 degrees to an attitude angle of 180 degrees in the second folded position, thereby allowing the top unit to assume a suitable attitude with respect to the bottom unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Watanabe, Masatomo Mizuta, Mitsuru Sendouda
  • Patent number: 7158816
    Abstract: A foldable and portable mobile communication terminal is formed as a two-folded type in which a lower-side body unit and upper-side unit are coupled openably and closably by a two-shaft hinge mechanism. The two-shaft hinge mechanism includes a first hinge unit that allows the upper-side body unit to rotate with respect to the lower-side body unit up to the open state defining a predetermined talking position, and a second hinge unit that allows the first hinge unit to rotate in a direction different from the aforementioned rotational direction of the first hinge unit. The first and second hinge units are coupled so that the rotational center axes thereof orthogonally intersect each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignees: NEC Corporation, Mitsubishi Steel Mfg., Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Shinji Ikeuchi, Mitsuru Sendouda, Sakae Higano, Hitoshi Sato, Minoru Ohiraki
  • Publication number: 20060230580
    Abstract: A fold-type cellular phone has a top unit, a bottom unit and a hinge coupling together the top unit and the bottom unit while allowing the top unit to turn and swivel with respect to the bottom unit. The top unit is first unfolded from a first folded position to an attitude angle of 160 to 170 degrees, and swiveled by 180 degrees to be folded onto the bottom unit in a second folded position at an attitude angle of 180 degrees. The swivel movement of the top unit causes a cam assembly to turn the top unit from the attitude angle of 160-170 degrees to an attitude angle of 180 degrees in the second folded position, thereby allowing the top unit to assume a suitable attitude with respect to the bottom unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: October 19, 2006
    Inventors: Yosuke Watanabe, Masatomo Mizuta, Mitsuru Sendouda
  • Patent number: 7096540
    Abstract: A fold-type cellular phone has a top unit, a bottom unit and a hinge coupling together the top unit and the bottom unit while allowing the top unit to turn and swivel with respect to the bottom unit. The top unit is first unfolded from a first folded position to an attitude angle of 160 to 170 degrees, and swiveled by 180 degrees to be folded onto the bottom unit in a second folded position at an attitude angle of 180 degrees. The swivel movement of the top unit causes a cam assembly to turn the top unit from the attitude angle of 160–170 degrees to an attitude angle of 180 degrees in the second folded position, thereby allowing the top unit to assume a suitable attitude with respect to the bottom unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Watanabe, Masatomo Mizuta, Mitsuru Sendouda
  • Publication number: 20040110529
    Abstract: A fold-type cellular phone has a top unit, a bottom unit and a hinge coupling together the top unit and the bottom unit while allowing the top unit to turn and swivel with respect to the bottom unit. The top unit is first unfolded from a first folded position to an attitude angle of 160 to 170 degrees, and swiveled by 180 degrees to be folded onto the bottom unit in a second folded position at an attitude angle of 180 degrees. The swivel movement of the top unit causes a cam assembly to turn the top unit from the attitude angle of 160-170 degrees to an attitude angle of 180 degrees in the second folded position, thereby allowing the top unit to assume a suitable attitude with respect to the bottom unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Watanabe, Masatomo Mizuta, Mitsuru Sendouda
  • Publication number: 20030064758
    Abstract: A foldable portable information terminal includes an upper unit having a display unit on its one side, a lower unit having operation keys on its one side, and a movable connecting mechanism connecting the upper unit and the lower unit allowing the upper unit to be opened, closed, and freely rotated with respect to a longitudinal direction of the lower unit. The displaying mode of the display unit whose direction varies depending on a position of the upper unit is changed depending on a positional relationship of the upper unit and the lower unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Applicant: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masatomo Mizuta, Kazuo Ohtsuta, Kiyoshi Kohayakawa, Michio Nagai, Mika Fujii, Masaki Shimamura, Mitsuru Sendouda
  • Publication number: 20010056361
    Abstract: A car rental system receives a rental order specifying the model of a rental car and a delivery location at which the user wishes the rental car to be delivered. The car rental agency delivers the specified rental car to the specified location, and leaves the rental car without attending to the user. The user goes to the specified location and then drives the rental car by using a password and a card key previously delivered to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Mitsuru Sendouda