Patents by Inventor Satoshi Katoh

Satoshi Katoh 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: 8459772
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt having holes facing a head and to transfer a recording medium in a transferring direction perpendicular to an array direction of nozzles in the head, a driving unit to drive the endless belt, a driving speed control unit to control a driving speed of the endless belt, and a maintenance discharge amount acquisition unit to acquire an amount of a recording liquid to be discharged from the nozzles of the head to allow the amount of the recording liquid to be passed through the holes in the endless belt for performing maintenance during a non-image forming operation. The driving speed control unit sets the driving speed of the endless belt based on the amount of the recording liquid to be discharged from the nozzles acquired by the maintenance discharge amount acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Katoh, Wataru Takahashi, Koji Nagai
  • Publication number: 20120062492
    Abstract: Provided is a display device with a narrowed frame capable of preventing pooling. A display device includes a display unit (69) including a liquid-crystal display panel (59), an internal frame (FM) covered with the liquid-crystal display panel (59), and a rear case (CS1) accommodating the internal frame (FM). Ribs (RB) of the rear case (CS1) support a touch panel (79) while separating the touch panel (79) from the internal frame (FM).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Katoh
  • Publication number: 20120001976
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt having holes facing a head and to transfer a recording medium in a transferring direction perpendicular to an array direction of nozzles in the head, a driving unit to drive the endless belt, a driving speed control unit to control a driving speed of the endless belt, and a maintenance discharge amount acquisition unit to acquire an amount of a recording liquid to be discharged from the nozzles of the head to allow the amount of the recording liquid to be passed through the holes in the endless belt for performing maintenance during a non-image forming operation. The driving speed control unit sets the driving speed of the endless belt based on the amount of the recording liquid to be discharged from the nozzles acquired by the maintenance discharge amount acquisition unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Katoh, Wataru Takahashi, Koji Nagai
  • Publication number: 20110148982
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a recording head having a nozzle and configured to discharge droplets of a recording fluid via the nozzle onto a recording sheet in an image forming operation; a sheet transport unit configured to transport the recording sheet in a sheet transport direction; and a maintenance unit configured to perform a maintenance operation for the recording head. The maintenance unit is configured to be moved in a forward direction corresponding to the sheet transport direction and a backward direction opposite the forward direction. The maintenance unit performs the maintenance operation when the maintenance unit is moved in the backward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.,
    Inventors: Satoshi Katoh, Koji Nagai
  • Publication number: 20110109770
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: recording memory (113) for storing an image of a subject; detection unit (105b) that detects the faces of people from a signal realized by imaging of an image of a subject; evaluation unit (105c) that, when detection unit (105b) detects faces of a plurality of people, evaluates each of the expressions of the faces of a plurality of people that were detected and computes a plurality of expression values in which the evaluated expressions are each converted to a numerical value; and control unit (110) that computes a deciding expression value from a plurality of expression values for determining whether the image of the subject is to be stored or not and that causes storage of the image of the subject in recording memory (113) when the deciding expression value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventor: Satoshi Katoh
  • Patent number: 7878117
    Abstract: A stencil printing apparatus with a plate-making device has first control means for executing a special plate-making mode for performing a plate-making operation so that perforated holes to be formed in a film of a master by heating and driving with regard to odd bits corresponding to odd-numbered heat generators and even bits corresponding to even-numbered heat generators are formed in different lines running in the main scanning direction, and so that the perforated holes to be formed on the film by heating and driving with regard to the odd bits and the even bits adjacent to each other are not arranged adjacent to each other in the same line in the main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Katoh, Kengo Tsubaki
  • Publication number: 20100260419
    Abstract: An image correction device includes a scene belonging rate computation unit that computes, from the feature value of an input image, a plurality of scene belonging rates each of which prescribes a probability with which the input image belongs to each category scene; an unknown scene belonging rate specification unit that specifies an unknown scene belonging rate prescribing a probability with which the input image belongs to an unknown scene; a by-scene correction parameter memory unit that stores by-scene correction parameters; a correction parameter combination unit that computes a combined correction parameter that is the weighted average of the correction parameters using the plurality of scene belonging rates and the unknown scene belonging rate; and an image correction unit that performs image correction processing for the input image using the combined correction parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Satoshi Katoh, Akira Inoue
  • Publication number: 20080302259
    Abstract: A stencil printing apparatus with a plate-making device has first control means for executing a special plate-making mode for performing a plate-making operation so that perforated holes to be formed in a film of a master by heating and driving with regard to odd bits corresponding to odd-numbered heat generators and even bits corresponding to even-numbered heat generators are formed in different lines running in the main scanning direction, and so that the perforated holes to be formed on the film by heating and driving with regard to the odd bits and the even bits adjacent to each other are not arranged adjacent to each other in the same line in the main scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Katoh, Kengo Tsubaki
  • Patent number: 7444933
    Abstract: A stencil printer of the present invention perforates, or cuts, a thermosensitive stencil with a thermal head to thereby make a master. The stencil printer includes a stencil distinguishing device for automatically identifying the kind of the stencil or a master setting device for allowing the operator of the printer to set the kind of the stencil. An adjusting device selects, among master making conditions experimentally determined beforehand, a master making condition matching with information output from the stencil distinguishing device or the stencil setting device. The operator can easily change the master making condition in accordance with the kind of a stencil to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kidoura, Yoshiyuki Shishido, Yasumitsu Yokoyama, Satoshi Katoh
  • Patent number: 7043095
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus in which an AD converter has a quantization bit count that can be modified, thereby reducing the power consumption of a digital signal processing circuit. The processing bit count of the digital signal processing circuit is made identical to the modified AD bit count. This provides improved image quality and reduced power consumption in the entire system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Katoh
  • Patent number: 6999115
    Abstract: An image taking apparatus, which can reduce the power consumption of the total system of the image taking apparatus without deteriorating image quality when an image is displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD), is provided. In the image taking apparatus, the quantization bit number at an analog to digital (A/D) converter and the signal processing bit number at a digital signal processor (DSP) are variable. With this, at an LCD displaying mode that video signals are displayed on the LCD, the quantization bit number at the A/D converter is reduced and also the signal processing bit number at the DSP is reduced to the same bit number at the A/D converter. With this operation, at the LCD displaying mode, the power consumption at the A/D converter and the DSP is reduced, therefore the power consumption of the total system of the image taking apparatus is largely reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Katoh
  • Patent number: 6993350
    Abstract: A mobile terminal such as a portable telephone accesses a map database server connected to the Internet, and positional data, destination, etc. acquired from a GPS receiver mounted on the mobile terminal are cataloged in the map database server. The results of a search for a route, route indication, etc. are received from the map database server in the form of a voice, a simplified map, or both a voice and a simplified map and are indicated on a display of the mobile terminal. By virtue of the above construction, a navigation system can be realized which can eliminate the need to update map data, is low in price, has no need to provide an installation space, has low power consumption, and can be simply and easily utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Katoh
  • Patent number: 6940553
    Abstract: To provide a solid-state image sensor, wherein no field adjustment of timing pulse phases used in the signal processor or of signal balances is needed, and noise performance is more improved, with a simple, miniaturized and economical configuration, a solid-state image sensor (1) of the invention comprises: a CCD (2) configured on a semiconductor chip for generating a CCD signal according to an optical image focused on a sensor area thereof; an on-chip signal processor (4) configured on the semiconductor chip by way of the same fabrication process with the CCD including a noise reduction circuit for eliminating noises from the CCD signal, an AGC circuit for amplifying output of of the noise reduction circuit; and a timing pulse generator (3) configured on the semiconductor chip by way of the same fabrication process with the CCD (2) for generating timing pulses used the on-chip signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Katoh
  • Publication number: 20050000375
    Abstract: A stencil printer of the present invention perforates, or cuts, a thermosensitive stencil with a thermal head to thereby make a master. The stencil printer includes a stencil distinguishing device for automatically identifying the kind of the stencil or a master setting device for allowing the operator of the printer to set the kind of the stencil. An adjusting device selects, among master making conditions experimentally determined beforehand, a master making condition matching with information output from the stencil distinguishing device or the stencil setting device. The operator can easily change the master making condition in accordance with the kind of a stencil to use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kidoura, Yoshiyuki Shishido, Yasumitsu Yokoyama, Satoshi Katoh
  • Patent number: 6836276
    Abstract: A thermal master making device and a thermal printer including the same are disclosed. A thermistor senses ambient temperature around a thermal head. A correcting device corrects the amount of heat to be generated by the thermal head, i.e., the duration of energization at least two times during a single master making operation. This configuration reduces a change in the perforation conditions of a thermosensitive medium ascribable to the heat accumulation characteristic of the head. The printer achieves high resolution, high-speed master making and space saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kidoura, Satoshi Katoh, Yasumitsu Yokoyama, Yoshiyuki Shishido
  • Patent number: 6786146
    Abstract: A stencil printer of the present invention perforates, or cuts, a thermosensitive stencil with a thermal head to thereby make a master. The stencil printer includes a stencil distinguishing device for automatically identifying the kind of the stencil or a master setting device for allowing the operator of the printer to set the kind of the stencil. An adjusting device selects, among master making conditions experimentally determined beforehand, a master making condition matching with information output from the stencil distinguishing device or the stencil setting device. The operator can easily change the master making condition in accordance with the kind of a stencil to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kidoura, Yoshiyuki Shishido, Yasumitsu Yokoyama, Satoshi Katoh
  • Patent number: 6747682
    Abstract: A thermal master making device and a thermal printer including the same are disclosed. A thermistor senses ambient temperature around a thermal head. A correcting device corrects the amount of heat to be generated by the thermal head, i.e., the duration of energization at least two times during a single master making operation. This configuration reduces a change in the perforation conditions of a thermosensitive medium ascribable to the heat accumulation characteristic of the head. The printer achieves high resolution, high-speed master making and space saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kidoura, Satoshi Katoh, Yasumitsu Yokoyama, Yoshiyuki Shishido
  • Publication number: 20040041899
    Abstract: A thermal master making device and a thermal printer including the same are disclosed. A thermistor senses ambient temperature around a thermal head. A correcting device corrects the amount of heat to be generated by the thermal head, i.e., the duration of energization at least two times during a single master making operation. This configuration reduces a change in the perforation conditions of a thermosensitive medium ascribable to the heat accumulation characteristic of the head. The printer achieves high resolution, high-speed master making and space saving.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kidoura, Satoshi Katoh, Yasumitsu Yokoyama, Yashiyuki Shishido
  • Patent number: 6664992
    Abstract: A master making device includes a thermal head with heat generating elements and a platen roller. While the head and platen roller convey a thermosensitive medium in a subscanning direction perpendicular to a main scanning direction, the heat generating elements selectively generate heat in order to perforate the medium in accordance with an image signal. The head includes a stepped portion formed at a medium outlet side in the subscanning direction. The edges of the heat generating elements adjoining the medium outside side are located at a distance of 0.018 mm to 0.5 mm from the end of the stepped portion adjoining the above edges. It is not necessary to position the head with respect to an effective nip between it and the platen roller by a troublesome procedure. Further, the distance over which the perforated medium is conveyed is reduced to obviate the reduction or contraction of an image ascribable to the sticking of the medium to the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumitsu Yokoyama, Yasunobu Kidoura, Satoshi Katoh, Yoshiyuki Shishido
  • Publication number: 20030008670
    Abstract: A mobile terminal such as a portable telephone accesses a map database server connected to the Internet, and positional data, destination, etc. acquired from a GPS receiver mounted on the mobile terminal are cataloged in the map database server. The results of a search for a route, route indication, etc. are received from the map database server in the form of a voice, a simplified map, or both a voice and a simplified map and are indicated on a display of the mobile terminal. By virtue of the above construction, a navigation system can be realized which can eliminate the need to update map data, is low in price, has no need to provide an installation space, has low power consumption, and can be simply and easily utilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: Satoshi Katoh