Patents by Inventor Satoshi Kitamura

Satoshi Kitamura 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: 20160153530
    Abstract: Provided is a simple-structured tensioner that can ensure a smooth flow of oil while enabling a reduction in the production cost. A tensioner 10 includes a plunger 30 provided with a plunger through hole 32 extending from an outer circumferential surface to an inner circumferential surface of the plunger 30, and a tensioner body 20 provided with an oil supply hole 25 extending from an outer wall of the tensioner body 20 to the plunger bore 21. The oil supply hole 25 is formed in an elongated shape that extends along a protruding direction of the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Osamu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9221517
    Abstract: A bicycle rear hub includes a hub spindle, a drive part, a hub shell, at least one first opposed part, at least one second opposed part and a driving force measuring part. The drive part is rotatably supported on the hub spindle, and configured to receive a driving-force-input member. The hub shell is rotatably supported on the hub spindle and operatively coupled to the drive part for rotation by the drive part on the hub spindle. The at least one first opposed part is coupled to the drive part. The at least one second opposed part is coupled to the hub shell and being disposed oppose to the first opposed part with a gap therebetween. The driving force measuring part includes at least one sensor arranged to measure at least one of the gap between the first and second opposed parts and a displacement of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9090123
    Abstract: A bicycle rear hub includes a hub spindle, a drive part, a hub shell, at least one first opposed part, at least one second opposed part and a driving force measuring part. The drive part is rotatably supported on the hub spindle, and configured to receive a driving-force-input member. The hub shell is rotatably supported on the hub spindle and operatively coupled to the drive part for rotation by the drive part on the hub spindle. The at least one first opposed part is coupled to the drive part. The at least one second opposed part is coupled to the hub shell and is disposed oppose to the first opposed part. The driving force measuring part includes a pressure sensor provided for contacting the first and second opposed parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9090300
    Abstract: A bicycle-use measuring apparatus includes a sensor, a signal amplifying section and a gain control section. The sensor is configured to be installed on a bicycle having a rotating part. The signal amplifying section amplifies an output of the sensor. The gain control section adjusts a gain of the signal amplifying section in accordance with changes in a rotational state of the rotating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20150205508
    Abstract: An apparatus management device includes a display unit, an operation unit, a storage unit, a selection unit, and an apparatus control unit. The storage unit stores a correspondence relationship between a user request, an apparatus, and a control condition. The control condition is a condition for the apparatus to be in an operating state appropriate for the user request. The operation unit receives an input operation of the user request. The selection unit selects an apparatus that does not satisfy the control condition from apparatuses that are associated, in the correspondence relationship stored in the storage unit, with the user request accepted by the operation unit. The display unit displays the apparatus selected by the selection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Lt
    Inventors: Makoto Kawasaki, Akihiko Hiroishi, Hideaki Yamaguchi, Satoshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9063024
    Abstract: A bicycle rear hub includes a hub spindle, a drive part, a hub shell and a driving force measuring part. The drive part is rotatably supported on the hub spindle, and configured to receive a driving-force-input member. The hub shell is rotatably supported on the hub spindle and operatively coupled to the drive part for rotation by the drive part on the hub spindle. The driving force measuring part includes a magnetostrictive element disposed in a driving force transmission path between the drive part and the hub shell, and a detection coil disposed in opposition to the magnetostrictive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9020694
    Abstract: A bicycle-use measuring apparatus includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to be installed on a bicycle having a rotating part. The controller is operatively connected to the sensor. The controller adjusts a detection frequency of the sensor in accordance with changes in a rotational state of the rotating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 9016802
    Abstract: A bicycle rear hub includes a hub spindle, a drive part, a hub shell and a driving force measuring part. The drive part is rotatably supported on the hub spindle, and configured to receive a driving-force-input member. The hub shell is rotatably supported on the hub spindle and operatively coupled to the drive part for rotation by the drive part on the hub spindle. The driving force measuring part includes a first signal generating mechanism and a second signal generating mechanism. The first signal generating mechanism has a first magnet and a first coil. The second signal generating mechanism has a second magnet and a second coil. The second signal generating mechanism is axially aligned with the first signal generating mechanism in an axial direction of the hub spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8950825
    Abstract: A bicycle rear hub includes a hub spindle, a drive part, a hub shell and a driving force measuring part. The drive part is rotatably supported on the hub spindle, and configured to receive a driving-force-input member. The drive part includes a coupling part having a liquid storage area filled with a liquid. The hub shell is rotatably supported on the hub spindle and operatively coupled to the coupling part of the drive part for rotation by the drive part on the hub spindle. The driving force measuring part includes a liquid pressure sensor that detects pressure of the liquid in the liquid storage area of the coupling part of the drive part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20140249681
    Abstract: An appliance control system includes: a sensor (3) that detects environmental data of a surrounding environment; a plurality of appliances (2) as control targets; a remote controller including: a display unit (15) that displays a list of the appliances (2); an input unit (16) that receives an operation of controlling the appliances (2); a storage unit (13) that stores a threshold value in the environmental data for each of the plurality of appliances (2); and a processing unit (12) that gives higher priority to an appliance in which the environmental data has exceeded a threshold value, the priority being concerned with a display order of the appliance (2) on the display unit (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Yamaguchi, Akihiko Hiroishi, Makoto Kawasaki, Satoshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8825279
    Abstract: A bicycle power sensing apparatus is basically provided with a power sensing device, a calibration signal generating device and a controller. The controller is operatively arranged to receive a calibration signal from the calibration signal generating device. The controller calibrates the power sensing device upon receiving the calibration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Michihiro Kodama
  • Patent number: 8781690
    Abstract: A bicycle seat position indicator has a controller and an indicating device. The controller provides an output signal indicative of a current height position of an adjustable bicycle seatpost. The indicating device is operatively coupled to the controller to receive the output signal and provide information representing the current height position of the adjustable bicycle seatpost based on the output signal from the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Hara, Satoshi Kitamura
  • Patent number: 8721495
    Abstract: A motorized rear derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a movable member, a pulley arrangement, a motor unit and a power limit circuit. The movable member is movably mounted to the base member between a plurality of gear positions. The pulley arrangement is supported by the movable member. The pulley arrangement includes a pulley having a dynamo that generates electrical energy in response to rotation of the pulley. The motor unit is operatively coupled between the base member and the movable member to selectively move the movable member relative to the base member between the gear positions. The motor unit is electrically coupled to the dynamo to selectively receive electrical energy generated by the dynamo. The power limit circuit is electrically coupled between the dynamo and the motor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Shintaro Mori
  • Publication number: 20140074348
    Abstract: A bicycle power sensing apparatus is basically provided with a power sensing device, a calibration signal generating device and a controller. The controller is operatively arranged to receive a calibration signal from the calibration signal generating device. The controller calibrates the power sensing device upon receiving the calibration signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi KITAMURA, Michihiro KODAMA
  • Patent number: 8650972
    Abstract: A bicycle hub apparatus comprises an axle, a hub member supported for rotation around the hub axle, an intermediate drive member supported for rotation around the hub axle and having a first portion and a second portion, a sensor shaft supported for rotation around the hub axle and having a first portion and a second portion, and a force sensor unit disposed on the sensor shaft. The first portion of the intermediate drive member is structured to receive an external rotational driving force, the first portion of the sensor shaft is coupled to the second portion of the intermediate drive member to receive the rotational driving force, and the second portion of the sensor shaft is coupled to the hub member for communicating the rotational driving force to the hub member. The intermediate drive member and the sensor shaft are coupled to each other within the hub member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Michihiro Kodama
  • Patent number: 8655561
    Abstract: A bicycle control system includes at least one user input member, a value generating unit, a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The value generating unit includes a memory component that at least temporarily stores a generated value. The value generating unit updates the generated value that was memorized in accordance with the at least one user input member was operated. The wireless transmitter periodically transmits control signals that are indicative of the generated value. The wireless receiver receives the control signals from the wireless transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20130291297
    Abstract: Providing a toilet flushing device and a flush toilet both of which can desirably execute toilet flushing. A toilet flushing device (20) includes a first tank (21) storing flush water, a second tank (22) having a lower opening (22C) communicating with the first tank (21) and having a lower region (22D) and an upper region (22U) with a larger capacity per unit height than the lower region (22D), an air passage (23) communicating between the second tank (22) and a toilet drainage (12) via a position located higher than a maximum storage water level (L) in the first tank (21), a water-supply passage (24) communicating between the first tank (21) and a toilet bowl (11) and a on-off valve (25) which maximizes a flow rate of an air in the air passage (23) with a delay to initiation of supply of flush water stored in the first tank (21) through the water-supply passage (24) into the toilet bowl (11), the air flowing from the toilet drainage (12) side to the second tank (22) side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: LIXIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Kojiro Watari, Hitomi Yamai, Shuhei Haida, Keisuke Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 8489277
    Abstract: An electronic suspension control apparatus is provided with a signal receiving section, a suspension lockout determination section and a signal output section. The signal receiving section selectively receives input signals. The suspension lockout determination section determines a suspension lockout state. The signal output section outputs a temporary lockout release signal in response to the signal receiving section receiving a suspension height adjustment signal as one of the input signals while the suspension lockout determination section determines that a suspension lockout state exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Hara, Satoshi Kitamura
  • Publication number: 20130145885
    Abstract: A bicycle generator or a shifting device has a base member, a rotation receiving member and a dynamo. The base member is configured to be mounted only in vicinity of a hub axle. The rotation receiving member is rotatably mounted on the base member and is rotated by a rotational part of a bicycle. The dynamo is coupled to the rotation receiving member to generate electrical energy in response to rotation of the rotation receiving member. In the case of the shifting device, a shifting unit is provided that includes an electric motor and an output member that engages a part of a bicycle hub transmission device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi KITAMURA, Shintaro MORI
  • Publication number: 20130138302
    Abstract: A bicycle seat position indicator has a controller and an indicating device. The controller provides an output signal indicative of a current height position of an adjustable bicycle seatpost. The indicating device is operatively coupled to the controller to receive the output signal and provide information representing the current height position of the adjustable bicycle seatpost based on the output signal from the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu HARA, Satoshi KITAMURA