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).
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Publication number: 20160153530Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2015Publication date: June 2, 2016Applicant: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Osamu Yoshida
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Patent number: 9221517Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
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Patent number: 9090123Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
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Patent number: 9090300Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
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Publication number: 20150205508Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2013Publication date: July 23, 2015Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., LtInventors: Makoto Kawasaki, Akihiko Hiroishi, Hideaki Yamaguchi, Satoshi Kitamura
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Patent number: 9063024Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
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Patent number: 9020694Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
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Patent number: 9016802Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
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Patent number: 8950825Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
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Publication number: 20140249681Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2012Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hideaki Yamaguchi, Akihiko Hiroishi, Makoto Kawasaki, Satoshi Kitamura
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Patent number: 8825279Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 11, 2012Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Michihiro Kodama
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Patent number: 8781690Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Nobukatsu Hara, Satoshi Kitamura
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Patent number: 8721495Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Shintaro Mori
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Publication number: 20140074348Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2012Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Satoshi KITAMURA, Michihiro KODAMA
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Patent number: 8650972Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Michihiro Kodama
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Patent number: 8655561Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 23, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Satoshi Kitamura
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Publication number: 20130291297Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2012Publication date: November 7, 2013Applicant: LIXIL CORPORATIONInventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Kojiro Watari, Hitomi Yamai, Shuhei Haida, Keisuke Sakakibara
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Patent number: 8489277Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Nobukatsu Hara, Satoshi Kitamura
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Publication number: 20130145885Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Satoshi KITAMURA, Shintaro MORI
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Publication number: 20130138302Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2011Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: SHIMANO INC.Inventors: Nobukatsu HARA, Satoshi KITAMURA