Patents by Inventor Naoto Watanabe
Naoto Watanabe 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: 10469712Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detector, a calculator, and a corrector. The detector receives brightness values obtained from an image printed based on image data. The image includes a plurality of streaks and non-streak portions having image density differences with the plurality of streaks. The detector detects a first streak width, a first brightness difference between a brightness value of the first streak and a brightness value of a non-streak portions, a second streak width wider than the first streak width, and a second brightness difference between a brightness value of the second streak and a brightness value of a non-streak portion. The calculator calculates a correction coefficient corresponding to the first streak width based on the first brightness difference and the second brightness difference. The corrector corrects an image density corresponding to the first streak width in the image data based on the calculated correction coefficient.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2018Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Naoto Watanabe
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Publication number: 20190324833Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes sensors for detecting a plurality of types of errors. The information processing apparatus identifies a type of an error detected by one of the sensors, acquires a result of diagnostic processing corresponding to the identified type of the error, and outputs error information indicating the identified type of the error, and diagnostic information about a component corresponding to the result of the diagnostic processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: Norihiko Kobayashi, Kimito Kasahara, Kaori Nishiyama, Naoto Watanabe, Keisuke Aizono, Satoshi Seki, Masahiro Mutsuno, Takuma Yasukawa, Yuki Suetani, Toshiyuki Miyake
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Publication number: 20190171159Abstract: An object is to suppress consumption of toner by a method of performing dew condensation elimination through toner application to a photosensitive drum. Provided is an image forming apparatus, including a plurality of photosensitive drums; an intermediate transfer belt to which toner images are transferred from the photosensitive drums; a determination unit which is configured to determine whether or not a dew condensation occurrence condition is met; and a dew condensation elimination unit which is configured to perform a dew condensation elimination operation by applying toner to the photosensitive drum in a case where the determination unit determines that the dew condensation occurrence condition is met and when a start instruction for image formation is received. When the image formation is started in a color image formation mode, the dew condensation elimination unit executes a first dew condensation elimination mode of applying toner to photosensitive drums corresponding to all of colors.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2018Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Naoto Watanabe, Hiroyuki Eda, Hidenori Matsumoto
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Patent number: 10298807Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image processor, a converter, a light source driver, an identifying unit, and a pattern generator. The image processor generates image data of first resolution and generates tag information indicating whether to perform image processing and associated with pixels of the image data of first resolution. The converter converts the image data of first resolution to image data of a higher second resolution. The light source driver drives a light source using a modulation signal corresponding to the image data of second resolution. The identifying unit identifies a target pixel to be subjected to image processing in the image data of first resolution based on the tag information. The pattern generator generates an image-processed pixel pattern of the second resolution according to the target pixel. The converter converts the target pixel in the image data of first resolution to the generated image-processed pixel pattern.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Muneaki Iwata, Masaaki Ishida, Atsufumi Omori, Naoto Watanabe, Hayato Fujita
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Publication number: 20180270397Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a detector, a calculator, and a corrector. The detector receives brightness values obtained from an image printed based on image data. The image includes a plurality of streaks and non-streak portions having image density differences with the plurality of streaks. The detector detects a first streak width, a first brightness difference between a brightness value of the first streak and a brightness value of a non-streak portions, a second streak width wider than the first streak width, and a second brightness difference between a brightness value of the second streak and a brightness value of a non-streak portion. The calculator calculates a correction coefficient corresponding to the first streak width based on the first brightness difference and the second brightness difference. The corrector corrects an image density corresponding to the first streak width in the image data based on the calculated correction coefficient.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventor: Naoto WATANABE
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Patent number: 10074550Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a stability of plasma in a plasma processing apparatus for performing a plasma processing by converting into plasma a processing gas supplied into a processing container. The method includes: detecting a light emission intensity of the plasma in the processing container while the plasma is generated in the processing container; generating a first function representing a relationship between time and the light emission intensity from a detection result of the light emission intensity; differentiating the first function with time to calculate a differential value, and generating a second function from a relationship between an absolute value of the differential value and time; and integrating the second function with time to calculate an integral value, and determining a stability of the plasma based on the calculated integral value. A related apparatus is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2015Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Ryo Miyama, Naoto Watanabe, Koichiro Nakamura
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Publication number: 20180176414Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image processor, a converter, a light source driver, an identifying unit, and a pattern generator. The image processor generates image data of first resolution and generates tag information indicating whether to perform image processing and associated with pixels of the image data of first resolution. The converter converts the image data of first resolution to image data of a higher second resolution. The light source driver drives a light source using a modulation signal corresponding to the image data of second resolution. The identifying unit identifies a target pixel to be subjected to image processing in the image data of first resolution based on the tag information. The pattern generator generates an image-processed pixel pattern of the second resolution according to the target pixel. The converter converts the target pixel in the image data of first resolution to the generated image-processed pixel pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2015Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Muneaki IWATA, Masaaki ISHIDA, Atsufumi OMORI, Naoto WATANABE, Hayato FUJITA
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Patent number: 9994783Abstract: A method for producing modified coal using coal of a low grade comprising: adding water for preventing any dust generation to the dewatered coal; an addition amount of the water is adjusted for a water content rate of the water-added coal to be 6% by mass or more to 16% by mass or less; agglomerating the water-added coal; slowly oxidizing the agglomerated coal; and crushing the oxidized coal.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventors: Seiichi Yamamoto, Takuo Shigehisa, Naoto Watanabe
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Patent number: 9925798Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source, an optical deflector having a rotary polygon mirror to deflect a light beam from the light source, a scanning optical system configured to focus the light beam deflected by the optical deflector on a target surface, a sync detecting sensor configured to determine a write start timing on the target surface, and a processing unit configured to correct detection data of the sync detecting sensor based on a measured value of a time needed for one revolution of the rotary polygon mirror.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2017Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Naoto Watanabe, Toshiaki Tokita, Kohji Sakai, Nobuaki Kubo, Masayuki Muranaka
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Patent number: 9855983Abstract: A rectifier that is installed on a vehicle which includes a front shield at a front of a vehicle compartment, a hood in front of the front shield, a cowl between a back edge of the hood and a lower end of the front shield, and a fender on an outside of the hood and the cowl in a vehicle width direction, the rectifier including a rectifier member that is installed at a region on a side surface of the fender and adjacent to the back edge of the hood, and has a negative pressure generation part which causes an airflow created when the vehicle travels to generate a negative pressure backward. The front shield is shaped like a curved surface that projects toward a front of the vehicle. At least a part of the negative pressure generation part is disposed in front of a shield extension virtual curve.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Yusaku Dogahira, Naoto Watanabe, Hiroshi Niitsu, Kento Ota, Hisafumi Nakaura, Hiroshi Natsui
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Patent number: 9856428Abstract: A method for storing upgraded coal, which is economical and whereby it becomes possible to prevent the spontaneous ignition of piles; and grain-size-controlled coal which rarely undergoes spontaneous ignition during storage. The method for storing upgraded coal includes piling up granular coal containing upgraded coal, wherein the content of grains each having a grain size of 10 mm or less in the coal is 50 mass % or more. It is preferred that the content of grains each having a grain size of 1 mm or less is 25 mass % or more and the content of grains each having a grain size of 0.15 mm or less is 7 mass % or more in the coal.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.Inventors: Motoharu Murota, Seiichi Yamamoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Takuo Shigehisa, Naoto Watanabe
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Patent number: 9837297Abstract: A tray includes a support base having both a first face on which a clamp object is placed and a second face opposite the first face, an upper electrode embedded in the support base and situated toward the first face, a lower electrode embedded in the support base and situated further toward the second face than the upper electrode is, and one or more interconnect lines configured to provide an electrical connection between the upper electrode and the lower electrode.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: SHINKO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.Inventors: Koki Tamagawa, Norio Shiraiwa, Tadayoshi Yoshikawa, Naoto Watanabe, Miki Saito
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Publication number: 20170339317Abstract: In an image processing apparatus gradation is represented by binary or multiple values. There is a memory to store correction information including a correction value corresponding to a position of image data. Correction circuitry corrects the image data according to the correction value. The number of bits representing the correction value for gradation is larger than the number of bits used to represent the image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Naoto WATANABE, Takashi Soma
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Patent number: 9821864Abstract: A vehicle aerodynamic structure changes an airflow passing under a vehicle floor. The structure includes at least one aerodynamic add-on device that exerts an impact on the airflow passing under a lower surface of the vehicle floor. The device is disposed below the lower surface of the vehicle floor on the inboard side of an inboard surface of a tire so as to be located behind a front end of the tire or a flap.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Naoto Watanabe, Shintaro Hanawa
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Patent number: 9811044Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet on a conveyance path on which the sheet is conveyed; a first conveyance path opening member configured to open a first portion of the conveyance path; a second conveyance path opening member configured to open a second portion, which is located downstream the first portion, of the conveyance path; a sheet leading edge position detecting unit configured to detect a position of a leading edge of a stopped sheet on the conveyance path; and a determination unit configured to determine, based on a detection result of the sheet leading edge position detecting unit, one of not conveying the stopped sheet, causing the conveyance unit to convey the stopped sheet toward the first portion, and causing the conveyance unit to convey the stopped sheet toward the second portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2016Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hidenori Matsumoto, Hiroyuki Eda, Yuichi Yamamoto, Naoto Watanabe
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Patent number: 9783242Abstract: A lateral end of a cowl panel is provided with an airflow outlet duct having an airflow outlet hole in a side surface of a front fender. The airflow outlet hole is located below a rising start section of a front pillar.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Naoto Watanabe, Yusaku Dogahira
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Patent number: 9733603Abstract: An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image in accordance with image information includes: an image forming unit configured to form an image that is uniform in area percentage of each of primary colors and a secondary color on an intermediate transfer belt; a measurer configured to measure amounts corresponding to density distribution of residual toner left on the intermediate transfer belt, on which the image uniform in area percentage of each of the primary colors and the secondary color is formed and from which toner is transferred onto a recording medium, in the main-scanning direction; and a corrector configured to correct a tone value of the image information so as to reduce density nonuniformity of a streak region observed in the density distribution in the main-scanning direction using the amounts measured by the measurer.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2016Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Takashi Soma, Takuroh Sone, Hideyuki Kihara, Naoto Watanabe, Takeshi Ogawa
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Publication number: 20170229332Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a stability of plasma in a plasma processing apparatus for performing a plasma processing by converting into plasma a processing gas supplied into a processing container. The method includes: detecting a light emission intensity of the plasma in the processing container while the plasma is generated in the processing container; generating a first function representing a relationship between time and the light emission intensity from a detection result of the light emission intensity; differentiating the first function with time to calculate a differential value, and generating a second function from a relationship between an absolute value of the differential value and time; and integrating the second function with time to calculate an integral value, and determining a stability of the plasma based on the calculated integral value. A related apparatus is also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2015Publication date: August 10, 2017Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Ryo MIYAMA, Naoto WATANABE, Koichiro NAKAMURA
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Patent number: 9714535Abstract: A vehicle such as an automobile includes: a vehicle body having an opening; an opening-closing member that closes the opening; a drive member that drives the opening-closing member so as to open and/or close the opening; a controller that controls the drive member to control the opening-closing member between a fully open position and a fully closed position; and an elastic member provided at a mating portion of the closed opening-closing member and the vehicle body and inserted between the closed opening-closing member and the vehicle body. The controller controls the drive member in a stopping state of the vehicle and opens the opening-closing member from the fully closed position so as to reduce a pressure acting upon the elastic member.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2015Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroshi Natsui, Isao Itoi, Hiroyuki Kobayashi, Noriyasu Tanaka, Tetsuro Takahashi, Hiroaki Fujino, Naoto Watanabe
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Patent number: 9703244Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor drum; an optical scanning device that drives a light source to scan a surface of the photoconductor drum and form a latent image on the surface; a developing device that develops the latent image; and a density detector to detect density variation of an image in a rotation direction of the photoconductor drum, the image being developed by the developing device. The optical scanning device includes a processing device that is capable of correcting a driving signal for driving the light source on a basis of an output signal of the density detector to adjust at least either one of a correction period and a correction strength of correction data for the driving signal for a rotation period of the photoconductor drum.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2016Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Muneaki Iwata, Masaaki Ishida, Atsufumi Omori, Naoto Watanabe, Hayato Fujita