Patents by Inventor SHO SONODA

SHO SONODA 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: 11755114
    Abstract: An input device includes: a touch sensor that detects a position of a touch on an operation surface by an operation finger; a vibration element that vibrates the operation surface; and a controller that changes a magnitude of vibration of the operation surface by the vibration element according to acceleration in movement of the operation finger along the operation surface, the movement being performed while the operation finger is touching the operation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Mitani, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Hiroyuki Togawa, Sho Sonoda
  • Patent number: 11579740
    Abstract: An input device includes: an input member that includes a first surface on which an operation is performed by an operation body and a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface; a first electrode that is disposed on the second surface; a second electrode that faces the first electrode and is disposed spaced apart from the first electrode; and a controller that detects a pressing force applied to the input member by an operation performed by the operation body, based on the electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and calculates a pressure-sensitivity value that is a value indicating the pressing force detected. Here, the first electrode is electrically connected to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sho Sonoda, Hiroyuki Togawa, Noriaki Matsui, Naoya Ueda
  • Publication number: 20220206642
    Abstract: An input device includes: an input member that includes a first surface on which an operation is performed by an operation body and a second surface that is a back surface of the first surface; a first electrode that is disposed on the second surface; a second electrode that faces the first electrode and is disposed spaced apart from the first electrode; and a controller that detects a pressing force applied to the input member by an operation performed by the operation body, based on the electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and calculates a pressure-sensitivity value that is a value indicating the pressing force detected. Here, the first electrode is electrically connected to the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Sho SONODA, Hiroyuki TOGAWA, Noriaki MATSUI, Naoya UEDA
  • Publication number: 20220197385
    Abstract: An input device includes: a touch sensor that detects a position of a touch on an operation surface by an operation finger; a vibration element that vibrates the operation surface; and a controller that changes a magnitude of vibration of the operation surface by the vibration element according to acceleration in movement of the operation finger along the operation surface, the movement being performed while the operation finger is touching the operation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Takahiro MITANI, Tsuyoshi TANAKA, Hiroyuki TOGAWA, Sho SONODA
  • Patent number: 11016570
    Abstract: An input device includes a movable section having a touch sensor, and an actuator that is mechanically fixed to the touch sensor and vibrates in a lateral direction; a support that supports the movable section via an elastic component; and a pressure sensor that (i) is disposed on a side opposite to a side on which the support supports the movable section and (ii) detects a pressing operation to the touch sensor. At least one of the movable section and the support transmits a force from the pressing operation to the pressure sensor due to the movable section and the support moving integrally and as a whole in a direction of the pressing operation when the pressing operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Togawa, Sho Sonoda, Kai Masamoto
  • Patent number: 10768705
    Abstract: A main body includes an input component that receives a load. A pressure-sensitive sensor detects the load received by the input component. A drive unit performs a predetermined operation. A drive controller activates the drive unit when the load detected by the pressure-sensitive sensor reaches a predetermined load threshold. A detection controller changes the predetermined load threshold in accordance with the rate of change in the load detected by the pressure-sensitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kai Masamoto, Hiroyuki Togawa, Sho Sonoda, Shogo Maenaka, Masaki Kitahashi
  • Patent number: 10613696
    Abstract: An operation unit of an input device has an operation body having a closed-end tubular shape and provided to be rotatable relative to a device body, and a sensor body provided on the device body in the operation body. The operation body enables a touch operation onto operation face S formed on at least a top face part, and enables a rotating operation that is different from the touch operation by rotating relative to the device body while holding its side face. The sensor body includes a detection face that is capable of detecting the touch operation of a detection target in contact with operation face S, and a periphery of the detection face and a periphery of a top face part of the operation body overlap each other in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sho Sonoda, Takuma Besshi, Shogo Maenaka
  • Publication number: 20190391656
    Abstract: An input device includes a movable section having a touch sensor, and an actuator that is mechanically fixed to the touch sensor and vibrates in a lateral direction; a support that supports the movable section via an elastic component; and a pressure sensor that (i) is disposed on a side opposite to a side on which the support supports the movable section and (ii) detects a pressing operation to the touch sensor. At least one of the movable section and the support transmits a force from the pressing operation to the pressure sensor due to the movable section and the support moving integrally and as a whole in a direction of the pressing operation when the pressing operation is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki TOGAWA, Sho SONODA, Kai MASAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20190227630
    Abstract: A main body includes an input component that receives a load. A pressure-sensitive sensor detects the load received by the input component. A drive unit performs a predetermined operation. A drive controller activates the drive unit when the load detected by the pressure-sensitive sensor reaches a predetermined load threshold. A detection controller changes the predetermined load threshold in accordance with the rate of change in the load detected by the pressure-sensitive sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LT D.
    Inventors: Kai MASAMOTO, Hiroyuki TOGAWA, Sho SONODA, Shogo MAENAKA, Masaki KITAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20190079608
    Abstract: An operation unit of an input device has an operation body having a closed-end tubular shape and provided to be rotatable relative to a device body, and a sensor body provided on the device body in the operation body. The operation body enables a touch operation onto operation face S formed on at least a top face part, and enables a rotating operation that is different from the touch operation by rotating relative to the device body while holding its side face. The sensor body includes a detection face that is capable of detecting the touch operation of a detection target in contact with operation face S, and a periphery of the detection face and a periphery of a top face part of the operation body overlap each other in a vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: SHO SONODA, TAKUMA BESSHI, SHOGO MAENAKA
  • Patent number: 9988068
    Abstract: A steering wheel input device includes a first steering switch disposed on a front face of a steering wheel and a second steering switch disposed on a rear face of the steering wheel. When the second steering switch is operated, an icon corresponding to the second steering switch is displayed on the first steering switch. The steering wheel input device allows various operations to be implemented. Furthermore, an operator can intuitively operate the steering wheel input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sho Sonoda, Hitokazu Shitanaka, Tsuyoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9734967
    Abstract: An operating panel device includes an operating ring, and a display device which is disposed to face a back surface of the operating ring. The display device includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion is located inside the operating ring, and the second portion is located outside the operating ring. The third portion connects the first portion and the second portion. A display of the first portion changes in conjunction with a rotational operation applied to the operating ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Fukui, Tsuyoshi Tanaka, Seiichi Nishimura, Sho Sonoda, Hitokazu Shitanaka
  • Publication number: 20160297462
    Abstract: A steering wheel input device includes a first steering switch disposed on a front face of a steering wheel and a second steering switch disposed on a rear face of the steering wheel. When the second steering switch is operated, an icon corresponding to the second steering switch is displayed on the first steering switch. The steering wheel input device allows various operations to be implemented. Furthermore, an operator can intuitively operate the steering wheel input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: SHO SONODA, HITOKAZU SHITANAKA, TSUYOSHI TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20160155585
    Abstract: An operating panel device includes an operating ring, and a display device which is disposed to face a back surface of the operating ring. The display device includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion is located inside the operating ring, and the second portion is located outside the operating ring. The third portion connects the first portion and the second portion. A display of the first portion changes in conjunction with a rotational operation applied to the operating ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: SATORU FUKUI, TSUYOSHI TANAKA, SEIICHI NISHIMURA, SHO SONODA, HITOKAZU SHITANAKA