Patents by Inventor Nobuhiko Suzuki

Nobuhiko Suzuki 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: 8503040
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a light source, a reading unit to convert received light to image data, a correction unit to correct the image data based on correction data, a storing unit storing the correction data, an illumination target switch unit to switch an illumination target between a read position and a reference position, a reflector reflecting light, a judgment unit to judge whether the image data outputted by the reading unit at the read position satisfies a predetermined condition, a correction data determination unit to determine the correction data in response to a fact that the illumination target of the light source is switched to the reference position, and a correction data update unit to store the correction data in the correction data storing unit. The illumination target switch unit switches the illumination target to the reference position if the image data satisfies the predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8498023
    Abstract: An image scanning device includes a scanning unit configured to execute image scanning of a document and thereby generate image data, at least one processing unit configured to successively process the image data outputted from the scanning unit, a transmission unit configured to transmit the image data outputted from the processing unit, a storage unit, in which multiple buffer areas to be used for transferring the image data among the scanning unit, the at least one processing unit and the transmission unit are allocated, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information on usage status of each of the buffer areas, and a changing unit configured to change storage area allocation at least between two of the buffer areas based on the usage status acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130083357
    Abstract: A portable terminal configured to wirelessly communicate with an image processing device. The portable terminal may include a processor, a display unit, and a memory. The memory may be configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the portable terminal to: receive first selection information from the image processing device, the first selection information including information which represents a plurality of first setting options; display a first selection screen on the display unit of the portable terminal in accordance with the first selection information; and select a particular first setting option from among the plurality of first setting options based on movement of the entire portable terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130083358
    Abstract: An image processing device configured to establish bidirectional communication with a portable terminal using short-range wireless communication includes: a processor; and a memory that stores computer-readable instructions therein. The computer-readable instructions may cause the image processing device to transmit first selection information to the terminal during a first communication session, the first selection information including information representing a plurality of first setting options for image processing carried out by the device; receive first item data from the terminal during a second communication session established after the first communication session is disconnected, the first item data representing a particular first setting option designated by a user of the terminal from among the plurality of first setting options; and carry out particular image processing in accordance with the particular first setting option represented by the first item data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8390899
    Abstract: An image scanner includes a scanning unit configured to scan images on document sheets, an image processing unit configured to perform image processing for the images scanned by the scanning unit under a predetermined condition, an identifying unit configured to identify one or more damaged sheets among the document sheets to be scanned, and a condition setting unit configured to set a specific condition under which the image processing is to be performed for images scanned from the damaged sheets identified by the identifying unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8390903
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a reading unit outputting an output value based on reflection light from a sheet or a reference member; a white reference value generating unit generating a group of white reference values based on the output value under one of the plurality of reading conditions while the light source unit is turned on; a white reference value storing unit; a white reference value converting unit converting the group of white reference values into a group of white reference values of a different reading condition based on a correlation between the reading condition and the different reading condition; a sheet reading control unit controlling the reading unit to read the sheet while turning the light source unit on with the luminosity and lighting time stored in the white reference value storing unit; and a shading correcting unit performing a shading correction for the output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8390841
    Abstract: An original reading apparatus, according to the present invention can include a reading portion capable of acquiring image data by reading an original, a communication portion that is connected to an external terminal device, a console capable of enabling an input operation by a user, a scan control portion that, based on a read command that is received through the communication portion from the terminal device, is capable of executing communication scan processing that sends image data that is acquired by the reading portion to the terminal device through the communication portion, and a warning portion capable of issuing a warning when an input operation is performed at the console when executing the communication scan processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20130047566
    Abstract: The invention is a working vehicle that has high practicality and a high degree of freedom of a turning operation. A lawn mowing vehicle includes a lawn mowing unit that includes drum wheels driven so as to rotate about an axis Ax1 extending in a vehicle width direction as a rotational center, a frame that is connected to the lawn mowing unit, and a steering drive device that is provided in the frame. The steering drive device includes a pair of steered wheels that is disposed in the vehicle width direction, steering units that can independently steer the pair of steered wheels respectively, and wheel driving units that can rotationally drive the pair of steered wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicants: CARIB DESIGN SERVICE INC, MAMIYA-OP Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji TAKAHASHI, Nobuhiko SUZUKI, Tomoji UTSUGI
  • Publication number: 20120194882
    Abstract: A control device may comprise a selection allowing unit configured to allow a user to select a specific file among a plurality of files, each of the plurality of files having a file format that is capable of including a plurality of pages worth of data, the specific file including M pages worth of data, and a creating unit configured to create a first file that includes M+N pages worth of data by using N pages worth of scan data created by making a scan executing unit execute scanning of N pages worth of original and the M pages worth of data included in the specific file, the first file including M+N pages worth of data having a same file format as the specific file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhiko SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8184336
    Abstract: An image processing device comprises an image processing unit capable of executing multiple types of image processing (differing in the amount of pixel loss caused to an image edge) to an image as a processing target, a specifying unit which specifies image processing that should be executed by the image processing unit from the multiple types of image processing, and a target image extending unit which extends the area of the image as the processing target depending on the amount of pixel loss to be caused by the image processing specified by the specifying unit. The image processing unit executes the image processing specified by the specifying unit to the image whose area has been extended by the target image extending unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8184306
    Abstract: A multifunction peripheral device capable of being operated in a plurality of switchable operational modes is provided. The multifunction peripheral device includes a reader unit with a light source and a light receiving element to receive the light reflected on the original document to generate image data, operation receiving members, through which a user's instructions are entered, a valid instruction storage unit to store valid instruction information, which defines correspondence between a valid instruction and a valid instruction receiving member, a judging unit to judge as to whether an operation entered through one of the operation receiving members is the valid instruction based on the valid instruction information and a current operational mode, and a switching unit to switch the light source on when the judging unit judges that the entered operation is the valid instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Suzuki, Hiroko Ishikawa, Hirotsugu Takahata
  • Patent number: 8123220
    Abstract: A sheet-medium-conveying device includes a tray, a conveying unit, a detecting unit, a determining unit, and a reference value changing unit. A plurality of sheets to be conveyed are settable on the tray. The conveying unit conveys the sheets on the tray. The measuring unit measures a quantity with respect to the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit. The detecting unit detects an overlapped feed in which at least two sheets are conveyed in a partially overlapped condition. The overlapped feed is detected by comparing the quantity measured by the measuring unit with a reference value. The determining unit is configured to determine whether a type of sheet conveyed by the conveying unit is changed. The reference value changing unit is configured to change the reference value to a value corresponding to the changed type of sheet as determined by the determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8009331
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an inner discharge part which discharges a recording sheet on which an image has been formed, a size determining unit which determines whether or not a size of the recording sheet to be discharged in the inner discharge part is smaller than a predetermined size, and a notification unit which indicates that the size of the recording sheet is smaller than the predetermined size based on a determination by the size determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110182602
    Abstract: An image forming system is provided. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus configured to form a mark for detecting at least one of a position deviation and a density deviation and obtains a correction amount by detecting the mark, the image forming system comprising: an identification unit configured to identify an image characteristic of an image to be printed according to at least one of a positional relationship between colors, a gradation distribution and a resolution, and a selecting unit configured to select a choice from multiple choices containing at least two choices of: only position deviation; only density deviation; and both position deviation and density deviation, according to the image characteristic identified by the identification unit, wherein the image forming apparatus is configured to form the mark for obtaining the correction amount according to the choice selected by the selecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhiko SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 7924475
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a first feed path; a second feed path; a detection unit; a feed system; an image read unit; a feed path switching unit; a drive source; a drive force transmission unit; a control unit that has a first feed mode that feeds a document from the first feed path to a document discharge portion and a second feed mode that feeds a document from the first feed path to the second feed path, and shifts a current feed mode from the second feed mode to the first feed mode; and an image modification unit that modifies the image read by the image read unit based on drive loss information acquired with regard to a drive loss of the drive force transmission unit occurring at the time of switching of the feed mode by the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110078422
    Abstract: An image processing device includes an operating unit and a plurality of control units each configured to control the operating unit in order to execute a function on image data. The plurality of control units include at least a first control unit and a second control unit. When a first mode is selected, the control units control the operating unit to execute the function in cooperation with each other. When a second mode is selected, at least the second control unit controls the operating unit to execute the function without cooperating with the first control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhiko SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 7860445
    Abstract: A document feeder includes a bidirectional feed path having both ends connected to predetermined positions of the bidirectional feed path, respectively. A document is fed from a downstream side of the image reading position to an upstream side with leading end and trailing end being reversed. The driving force is not transmitted when the rotation of the rotating member of the driving source is switched from one direction to the other, while the driving force is transmitted when an actuator is operated based on the driving system being rotated in the other direction. The actuator is actuated when the driving system is rotated in the other direction and the document is drawn in the bidirectional feed path. If the rotated amount of the driving source during the actuation of the actuator is less than a predetermined value, the actuator is actuated by a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100302605
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a reading unit outputting an output value based on reflection light from a sheet or a reference member; a white reference value generating unit generating a group of white reference values based on the output value under one of the plurality of reading conditions while the light source unit is turned on; a white reference value storing unit; a white reference value converting unit converting the group of white reference values into a group of white reference values of a different reading condition based on a correlation between the reading condition and the different reading condition; a sheet reading control unit controlling the reading unit to read the sheet while turning the light source unit on with the luminosity and lighting time stored in the white reference value storing unit; and a shading correcting unit performing a shading correction for the output value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhiko SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20100187753
    Abstract: A sheet-medium-conveying device includes a tray, a conveying unit, a detecting unit, a determining unit, and a reference value changing unit. A plurality of sheets to be conveyed are settable on the tray. The conveying unit conveys the sheets on the tray. The measuring unit measures a quantity with respect to the sheet conveyed by the conveying unit. The detecting unit detects an overlapped feed in which at least two sheets are conveyed in a partially overlapped condition. The overlapped feed is detected by comparing the quantity measured by the measuring unit with a reference value. The determining unit is configured to determine whether a type of sheet conveyed by the conveying unit is changed. The reference value changing unit is configured to change the reference value to a value corresponding to the changed type of sheet as determined by the determining unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhiko SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 7743229
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a reading unit; a memory interface unit; a permission information obtaining unit; a permission determining unit; and a data recording unit. The reading unit reads an image. An external memory is removably connected to the memory interface unit and stores permission information. The permission information obtaining unit is configured to obtain the permission information from the external memory. The permission determining unit is configured to determine whether the obtained permission information is valid. The data recording unit is configured to record data corresponding to the image on the external memory connected to the memory interface unit if the obtained permission information is valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki